Tripura girl gang-rape sparks protest

Five indigenous organisations have protested the recent gang-rape of a teenage Tripura girl in Khagrachhari and demanded an end to the culture of impunity by ensuring punishment for the culprits.

They also alleged that violence against women, particularly of the minority indigenous communities, is on the rise due to lack of proper implementation of law.

Bangladesh Tripura Kalyan Sangsad and Tripura Students Forum organised a human chain in front of Khagrachhari Press Club on Friday, a day after the rape, and people from different areas and sections took part in it.

Tapan Bikash Tripura, chairman of Parachra Union Parishad; Apurba Tripura, vice president, and Ananta Bikash Tripura, general secretary, of Tripura Kalyan Sangsad; Debashish Tripura, president of Tripura Student Forum; and schoolteacher Andpru Marma spoke there, demanding exemplary punishment for the rapists.

In addition, three organisations backed by the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) brought out a protest procession on Friday. Leaders and activists of Hill Students Council, Democratic Youth Forum and Hill Women's Federation started the march from in front of the UPDF office in Swanirbhar area and walked up to the Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila Parishad and back.

At the end of the procession, Ratan Smriti Chakma of Democratic Youth Forum, Anti Chakma of Hill Women's Federation, and Tapan Chakma and Amal Tripura of Hill Students Council spoke there. They demanded justice for all gang-rape victims and a stop to the expansion of “a new army camp in violation of the CHT Peace Accord”.

On Thursday noon, the Tripura girl, also a tenth grader, went to the Zilla Parishad Park with three of her friends -- two boys and a girl. There, a group of Bangalee youths attacked them and gang-raped the Tripura girl. She was rescued later by police. The victim's family filed a case with Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station, accusing eight people.

OC Shahadat Hossain Tito of the police station said five of the persons involved were arrested so far and sent to jail.