Two held over rape charges in Noakhali

A mother of two has allegedly been gang-raped by three men due to rivalry over possession of a pond in the district’s Begumganj upazila.

The victim told this newspaper that her husband and three local youths -- Harun, Saiful Islam and Babu -- had been at loggerheads over fish farming for long.

Around 10:30pm on Thursday, around 60-70 men, led by the three youths, surrounded her house in Doalia village when her husband was away. They vandalised properties and assaulted her mother-in-law.

At one stage, the three youths violated the woman and left the home.

The victim was undergoing treatment at Noakhali General Hospital. Her husband filed a case with Begumganj police Thursday night. 

Begumganj OC Firoze Alam Molla said Harun, Saiful and Babu were accused of rape and some 60 to 70 unidentified people of vandalism.

“Babu and Saiful, both aged 30, were held this [yesterday] morning with arms and ammo. Raids are un-derway to arrest Harun,” the OC said.

Abdul Azim, residential medical officer at Noakhali General Hospital, said samples had been collected from the victim to run necessary medical tests.