Victim's parents threatened to withdraw case

Halima Khatun, 14, of Dewli village in Mohammadpur upazila committed suicide on June 13 year after allegedly being humiliated by four local youths earlier on the day.

Before taking poison she told her parents that she was humiliated by Khairul, Alamgir, Manjur and Al-Amin of the same village.

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Halima's uncle Faruk Molla filed a case with Mohammadpur police.

Her tragic end whipped up protests in the area and drew many political leaders, police officials and NGO activists to the remote village.

Though the accused in the case are in jail, an influential circle led by a former Union Parishad member is threatening her parents with eviction from the village if they do not withdraw the case, they told this correspondent recently.

They also alleged that they informed police about the threats but they are doing nothing to ensure their safety.

When contacted, sub-Inspector Shamsul Huda of Mohammadpur thana, who is the investigation officer (IO) of the case said, "As we have submitted charge sheet of the case, they should lodge specific complaint regarding the threats to get legal protection."

Police, after two month's invention, submitted on August 11 two charge sheets under Section 305 of Bangladesh Penal Code and Section 9 (4) (Kha) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000.