Pabna OC withdrawn, SI suspended over forced marriage of rape victim to assailant

The authorities have withdrawn Pabna Sadar Police OC Obaidul Hoque from duty and suspended Sub-Inspector Ekramul Hoque based on 'evidence' that they had forced a victim of an alleged gang rape to marry one of her assailants at the station.

Pabna Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 12 Sept 2019, 06:50 AM
Updated : 12 Sept 2019, 11:54 AM

Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, the district's superintendent of police said, "OC Obaidul denied that allegation but a probe panel found proof that the marriage had indeed taken place in the police station."

OC Obaidul was closed to the police lines around 11.30 am on Thursday on the basis of the probe report, he said.

Further action could be taken against them at the end of a departmental inquiry into the incident.

The woman, a mother of three, alleged that her neighbour Russell Ahmed intruded into her house with another man and raped her on Aug 29.

Two days later, she was held captive in the office of a business enterprise where she was raped by another four or five men.

Later, the woman as plaintiff submitted a written complaint to the police which led to the arrest of Russel. But instead of recording the case, the law enforcers married her off to Russel that same night.

The authorities have ordered OC Obaidul to explain the matter and a case over the rape was subsequently started by the police.

Police have made two more arrests in connection with the rape on Thursday morning. Four of the five named suspects in the case have been arrested so far.

They are Russel Ahmed, Hossain Ali, Md Sanju and Shariful Islam Ghontu, the former joint general secretary of the Awami League's local unit. 

"Russel and Hossain have given confessional statements under section 164 (Code of Criminal Procedure)," said SP Rafiqul.

The district administration has also opened an investigation into the incident.

Deputy Commissioner Kabir Mahmud said a three-strong probe panel headed by Additional District Magistrate Zahid Newaz has been formed on the instruction of the Cabinet Division.