Man held on charge of 'raping' 2 girls

Villagers beat up a man and handed him over to the police yesterday after he allegedly raped two fifth graders on Friday in Badarganj upazila of Rangpur.

Abdul Halim, 55, of Nawpara, Rajarampur village runs a nursery at the village, said Anisur Rahman officer-in-charge of Badarganj Police Station.

He said the two 11-year-olds often collected flower saplings from Alim's nursery. On Friday, the girls went to the nursery to buy saplings. Alim then lured them into a nearby bamboo cluster, saying he would give them free saplings. There, he allegedly raped the girls.

The girls told their parents yesterday what had happened.

Locals then caught Abdul Halim and gave him a beating before informing the police.

The parents of the girls filed a case in this regard.