HC demands police explanation on Garo girl rape case

The High Court has demanded explanation from police for their delay in processing the case over Thursday’s gang rape of a Garo girl.

The bench of Justices Farah Mahbub and Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo on Monday also asked them to justify why the girl should not be paid compensation for the delay in processing the case.

Responding to a Sunday petition by five human rights organisations, the court also asked why action should not be taken against the responsible policemen for ‘negligence’.

It also ordered the Home Secretary, IGP, Dhaka city police commissioner to issue a circular to ensure discrimination-free service for all at the police stations.

The High Court also asked the petitioners to come up with a list of names they suggest for formation of a panel of former judges, lawyers and women rights activists to review the existing laws to bring down sexual violence and harassment.

The five organisations, Naripakkha, Mahila Parishad, National Indeginous Council, Ain O Shalish Kendra and BLAST were asked to submit their nominations by May 31.

Sarah Hossain stood for the petitioners along with ZI Khan Panna and Mehbuba Jui. The state was represented by Deputy Attorney General Amatul Karim and Assistant Attorney General Nusrat Jahan.

According to the victim’s elder sister, they went to Turag Police Station to file a rape case as their residence was within its jurisdiction.

But the police turned them down around 4am as the place of the occurrence was not within their jurisdiction.

They reached Gulshan police station an hour later and were given the same response.

At 6:30am on Friday they reached Vatara Police Station but were told they would have to wait as the officer in charge is not there.

The OC came in around 9:30am and the case was finally recorded around 12:30pm, more than eight hours after their first attempt.

The home secretary, IGP, DMP commissioner, OCs of Uttara, Khilkhet, Gulshan and Vatara police stations and the officer on duty during that shift at Vatara Police Station were made respondents in the ruling.

The court scheduled hearing on the rulings for June 14.