Tk 50,000 and 10 squats for ‘raping’ widow!

Police arrested two alleged rapists and an arbitrator after news of a village arbitration led to an outcry on social media. 

The arbitration had led to the two being punished with a fine of Tk 50,000 each and 10 squats while holding their ears.

The incident happened in Chhatarpaiya area in Senbagh upazila of Noakhali district.

According to the victim, a 38-year old widow, she was allegedly raped in front of her minor son, who was held at knifepoint at the time.

When the locals were informed of the matter, they organised the arbitration. punishment. A rickshaw puller, who was an accomplice, was fined Tk 30,000.

Senbagh police arrested the accused, Md Rubel and Md Nur Nabi, and also the arbiter Abul Kashem alias Macch Kashem on Monday afternoon.

The victim, who works in a garments factory in Chittagong, said she, along with her 12-year old son, left for her parent's home in Senbagh upazila under Senbagh thana from Chittagong on the afternoon of February 20.

They reached Chhatarpaiya Bazar at around 11:00 pm from where she hired the rickshaw of one Selim to go to her home at Filadi village under Chhatarpaiya union.

After the rickshaw had gone some distance, the rickshaw puller stopped the vehicle. He then began making phone calls. After a while, Nur Nabi and Rubel appeared at the scene. They then forcibly took the woman near the banks of a canal nearby and gang-raped her. 

As her son cried out, the perpetrators scared him by brandishing a knife.

Four days after the incident, on February 24, local arbiter Abul Kashem and Md Hanif arranged the arbitration at Chhatarpaiya Bazar, the victim said.  About 50 people of different ages, including children, juveniles and youths were present.

When the matter of arbitration spread via social media, it came to the attention of law enforcers.

 A team of police took the victim to the local police station for filing a case.  Another police team picked up Nur Nabi, Rubel and Abul Kashem.

 Officer-in-Charge of the police station Harun-ur-Rashid Chowdhury confirmed that they had arrested the two accused and the arbiter.  He said police have been trying to arrest others involved in the incident.

The OC added that the victim has filed a case with the police station. 

The arrested were produced before a court Tuesday morning which sent them to jail custody.