Cops in dark despite main accused active on FB

Over two weeks have already elapsed since the case of abduction and rape of a teenage indigenous girl was filed against a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activist of Chittagong, but police are yet to arrest him.

According to the case statement filed on May 10, Alam Mia, 30, son of Monir Ahammed of Islampur union in Chittagong's Rangunia upazila, along with his two associates abducted the girl from Ghagra union of Rangamati on March 9 evening and kept her in a house in Gabtola village of Rangunia where Alam raped the girl for two months.

In early May, she managed to call her family and subsequently, they informed Chairman Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury Milton of Islampur union who later rescued the girl from the house.

Md Kalam, union parishad member of Gabtola, and also owner of the house where the girl was kept, said, “Two months ago, the two introduced themselves as a married couple. At that time, she did not hesitate or complaint about being abducted.” Quoting the girl's statement given after her rescue, Iqbal said Alam used to threaten her for keeping mum.

The girl gave a similar description to journalists at the victim support centre at Rangamati Kotwali Police Station on May 18.

Alam is an activist of BCL, said Iqbal, who is also the president of Awami League Islampur union unit. He said, “So far I know, Alam is in Rangunia”.

Contacted over the phone, Alam told this correspondent on Tuesday and Wednesday, that he developed a good relation with the girl's family when he visited their village for buying fire woods.

He said on March 9, the girl called and requested him to arrange accommodation and a job for her as her elder brother beat her.

“She wanted to marry me but I refused. I did not have any physical relationship with her,” claimed Alam. He said he was already married and had a daughter.

Asked, police said even if the girl went with them intentionally, she is below 18. Therefore, those who took her have committed a crime as per the law.

Sub-inspector Sujon Das, also the investigation officer, said, “We have already arrested the two associates and trying to arrest Alam.”

As per Alam's Facebook ID, he was active on the social media even after the case was filed.