Home minister criticises killings of rape suspects, vows to crack ‘Hercules’ mystery

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said the government wants to crack the mystery surrounding the recent killings of rape suspects.

A note found on a supect's body reads: I am Rakib who raped … in Pirojpur’s Bhandaria. This is the fate of rapists. Rapists beware -- Hercules.” A note found on a supect's body reads: I am Rakib who raped … in Pirojpur’s Bhandaria. This is the fate of rapists. Rapists beware -- Hercules.”

Rape suspect found dead in Jhalakathi, along with a note from ‘Hercules’

Rape suspect shot dead in Jhalakathi

Bullet-ridden body of Ashulia gang-rape ‘suspect’ found with a note

“The government or the state does not expect any sort of killings,” he said in response to a question after a programme in Dhaka on Friday.  

At least three suspects accused in different rape cases were found killed in past one month.

Notes found on the bodies said they “faced the consequences of rape”. One of the notes was attributed to “Hercules” in Jhalakathi.

“I don’t think those who are carrying out these killings by sticking the ‘Hercules’ note are doing something good. They should have handed (the suspects) to the law enforcers,” the home minister said.

A note found on a supect's body reads: I am Rakib who raped … in Pirojpur’s Bhandaria. This is the fate of rapists. Rapists beware -- Hercules.”

Police are in the dark about who are killing the rape suspects as the serial killings and attribution to the mythical character have drawn attention of the international media as well.

Human rights activist Sultana Kamal has termed the killings “an ominous sign”.

She says recurrence of such incidents may create distrust in the judicial system of Bangladesh.

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque has said no-one has the authority to take the law into their own hands.

He says it is the duty of the law enforcers and the state to find out who were killing the suspects.

When the home minister’s attention was drawn to the issue after the programme on Friday, he said rapists must face tough punishment, but it was unlawful to kill them instead of turning them in to police.

“We are checking the incidents. We will crack the mystery through investigation," he added.