The villagers, with the initiative of local NGOs -- CDA, RDRS and JSS -- brought out a protest procession, held a rally in front of the UNO office and submitted a memorandum to the UNO.

Police failed to make any headway in the murder cases including the recent rape and murder of two young girls, fueling the anger of the villagers.

Later, the UNO assured the angry villagers of taking necessary steps for speedy trial of the cases.

Locals said Khushi, 20, and her cousin Sabina, 18, of Bongaon village were raped and killed on May 29, Sahera Khatun, 20, of village Baksa Sundarpur was killed on June 24 for dowry, and businessman Mominur Rahman Dalim, 27, of Munishgaon village was murdered in March this year in Panchagarh.

Nilufar Yasmin, a student of class 10 of Ranishankail Girls' High School, was led to commit suicide on January 27 this year. Housewife Budi Begum, 40, was strangled at Doshia village and teenage girl Mukta was murdered after rape last December. Four other murder cases were filed in last two years.