2 Manikganj cops held

Two police officials in Manikganj were arrested and placed on a six-day remand yesterday in a case filed over the rape of a woman. 

Police arrested Sub-inspector Sekendar Hossain and Assistant Sub-inspector Mazharul Islam of Saturia Police Station around 1:45am yesterday, hours after a committee, formed to investigate the incident, said it primarily found proof of the allegation.

The 22-year-old woman lodged the case with the police station against the two on Monday evening.

Judge Md Golam Sarwar of Judicial Magistrate Court-7 placed the two on a six-day remand after Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Saturia Police Station and also investigation officer of the case, produced them before the court.

The IO sought a 10-day remand for each of them, said plaintiff's lawyer Nazrul Islam Badsha.

Lutfor Rahman, resident medical officer at Manikganj 250-bed Hospital, yesterday said the woman's medical test had been done, and they would submit the report to the IO within three days.

After the rape allegation, Rifat Rahman Shamim, superintendent of Manikganj police, on Sunday formed the two-member probe committee. They are Hafizur Rahman, additional superintendent of police (Sadar circle) in the district, and Hamidur Rahman Siddiqui, senior assistant police superintendent of Special Branch.

Hafizur, head of the probe body, told The Daily Star yesterday that the probe committee had enquired about the allegation and talked to the victim who said she had been held captive for two days last week and repeatedly raped by the police officials. 

The body is yet to submit its report.

Both the police officials had been withdrawn and attached to Manikganj Police Lines following the allegation.

On Sunday, the woman met SP Rifat and informed him that SI Sekendar borrowed Tk 1 lakh from her aunt five years ago. He was supposed to give back Tk 3 lakh with interest. She and her aunt went to Saturia Police Station on Wednesday afternoon to meet Sekendar.

After meeting them, Sekendar took them to Saturia Rest House. A few minutes later, ASI Mazharul went there, she said.

The police officials then confined her aunt to one room and forced the victim to take yaba pills in another. She was raped several times until they were freed on Friday morning.