Two cops face rape allegation

A probe committee has found the allegation of rape against two Manikganj police officers to be true.

“Primarily, we have found proof of the allegation,” Hafizur Rahman, additional superintendent of police (Sadar circle) in the district, told The Daily Star last night.

Hafizur, who headed the probe, said the committee members had enquired about the allegation throughout yesterday and talked to the 22-year-old woman who said she had been held captive for two days last week and repeatedly raped by Sub-inspector Sekendar Hossain and Assistant Sub-inspector Mazharul Islam.

The officers of Saturia Police Station have been withdrawn and attached to Manikganj Police Lines following the allegation.

The woman met the superintendent of police in Manikganj on Sunday 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 her to take yaba pills in another. She was raped several times until they were freed on Friday morning.

Asked, Sekendar said the allegation was not true and the two women left Saturia Police Station before Wednesday evening.  

Asked why he has been withdrawn, he said he had no idea about it.

The woman yesterday filed a case with Saturia Police Station, accusing the two police officers. She was sent to a hospital for tests.

Manikganj Superintendent of Police Rifat Rahman Shamim said the probe committee was formed with Hafizur and Hamidur Rahman Siddiqui, senior assistant police superintendent of Special Branch in the district.

Departmental and legal actions will be taken against the two if found guilty, the SP said.