Mentally challenged woman 'raped'

A mute and mentally challenged woman was allegedly raped by a man in Sunamganj on Thursday, while one man was arrested yesterday for allegedly raping a teenager in Faridpur early Saturday. Meanwhile in Cumilla, another teenager filed a complaint in her school on Saturday against a teacher for attempting to rape her.

In Sunamganj, a 25-year-old mute and mentally challenged Santal woman was allegedly raped by Khairul Islam of Kapna village, according to the case filed with Bishwambarpur Police Station on Saturday, said Pabitra Kumar Sinha, acting officer-in-charge of the station.

He added that the woman was from Kaknimara Santal Basti area of Chunarughat upazila in Habiganj, and nobody could confirm how and why she was at Bishwambarpur.

“The woman was roaming around the Mathurkandi bazar area since the afternoon. In the evening, Khairul forced her to go behind a nearby bush where he raped her,” he said, adding that locals took her to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital when they later found her at the spot.

The OC further said that the accused was on the run, adding, “We have traced the victim's family at Chunarughat and they were informed.”

In Faridpur, police yesterday arrested a man from his house at Alipur area yesterday around 4:00pm for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl, said AFM Nasim, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.

According to the case statement, when the girl went outside the house around 1:00am to use the bathroom, Obaidullah, a neighbour, ambushed and raped her.

The victim's mother, after being told about the incident the next morning, filed the case with Kotwali Police Station.

“Before we arrested Obaidullah, locals beat him up for the rape,” the OC added.

The girl was sent to the One-Stop Crisis Centre of Faridpur Medical College Hospital for treatment and tests.

In Cumilla, an eighth grader of Maleka Momtaj Girls High School submitted a complaint to the school authorities against her math teacher alleging him of attempt to rape.

Speaking to The Daily Star the girl said, “On Thursday afternoon, I went to the teacher to change a book and he took me to the school's book storage room. He then molested and tried to rape me. I screamed and ran away. I immediately told the head master and other teachers before I fainted.”

On Saturday morning, the victim and her father submitted written complaint against Mojammel.

Shahadat Hossain, head master of the school, said, “Our governing body had called a meeting immediately after getting the complaint. We formed a probe committee and suspended the teacher.”

Contacted, the suspended teacher said, “It is a conspiracy against me. Other teachers are involved in it.”  However, when asked why a 13-year-old would conspire against him, he remained silent.