4 arrested for raping teenager in Thakurgaon

Police arrested four young men Saturday night on charges of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl in Thakurgaon while a madrasa teacher was arrested for raping a student in Lalmonirhat.

In Thakurgaon, police arrested Babul alias Babu, 19, Sohel, 20, Poidul, 22, and Ramjan, 19, of the town and Ranisankail upazila.

The victim was strolling on a bridge with a 12-year-old girl when Babul, who was an acquaintance, came to the scene with the three others and forced her to go to a secluded orchard, police said, adding that they kept the 12-year-old girl confined to an empty house.

The suspects raped her throughout the night and left her critically ill, police added.

The 12-year-old girl somehow managed to escape from the house and rushed to the mango orchard where she found her friend bound and tied.

The two of them then walked to a local market and called their families. The family members then rescued the girls.

The victim's mother filed a case accusing six men, including the four arrestees, said Tanvirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station.

Ziaul Haque, who is investigating the case, said the accused admitted raping the girl during primary interrogation.

In Lalmonirhat, police arrested 45-year-old madrasa teacher Saddam Hossain on charges of abducting and raping a 14-year-old girl, who was his student.

Saddam, who has two children, abducted the girl around a week ago and took her to his rented flat.

He kept the girl confined and raped her, said police, quoting the victim's family members.

On Saturday night, the girl's mother, with the help of locals, went to Saddam's rented flat and rescued her. They also handed Saddam to the police, said Shah Alam, officer-in-charge of Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station.

Her mother filed a case against Saddam later, the officer added.

[Our correspondents from Thakurgaon and Lalmonirhat contributed to the story]