Hundreds protest rape of mentally challenged girl

10 October 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Jhenidah

Hundreds of people join a procession at Garaganj bus stand in Shailkupa upazila under Jhenidah district on Friday afternoon demanding punishment to the rapist of a mentally challenged girl. Photo: STAR

Hundreds of people, including the physically challenged, formed a human chain at Garagang bus stop under Sailkupa upazila of Jhenidah district on Friday demanding arrest and exemplary punishment of an influential person who allegedly raped a mentally retarded girl at Chandipur village recently. Protibodhi Bahumukhi Kalyan Samity Jhenidah unit organised the human chain and also held a rally at the venue. Locals and family sources said Sariful Islam, a local leader of the ruling party, intercepted the girl at Chandipur village when she along with her farther was returning home at Mohespur village under the upazila from a local fair on the night of September 26. Victim's family said Sariful picked up the girl, took her to a nearby field and raped her. As Sariful is an influential person, victim's father Momtaz Mondal did not dare open his mouth. When the matter came to the notices of the local people, Momtaz filed a case against Shariful with Sailkupa Police Station on October 4. Police later sent the girl to Jhenidah Sadar Hospital for medical test. After check-up, doctors at the hospital confirmed that the girl was raped. Chaired by Protibodhi Bahumukhi Kalyan Samity Jhenaidah unit President Nurul Islam, Sailkupa Upazila Parishad Chairman Nayeb Ali Joarder attended the rally as chief guest.