Man held over rape of woman in M’singh

Police on Sunday night arrested a man in connection with a case filed over the gang-rape of a woman in Mymensingh’s Nandail upazila.

Police produced Helal Uddin, 55, before a Mymensingh court yesterday with a five-day remand prayer, following which the magistrate granted remand for two days to interrogate the accused, said Nandail Police Station OC Md Azharul Islam.

On Saturday, police rescued the 26-year-old victim, a mother of two, who was reportedly gang-raped in Nandail. The next day, the victim’s father filed a case with Nandail Police Station, naming one person and several unnamed accused, said the OC.

Quoting the case statement, the OC said the victim, from Sunamganj, was travelling with her three-year-old daughter to her in-laws’ house in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka upazila on April 19. She lost her way and reached Nandail. Four people came forward offering help, and she agreed. Later they took her to a secluded place, raped her, and left her there.

When the woman -- in tears -- went to Shimultoli Bazar area in Nandail the following night, a woman from a nearby area took the victim and her child to her house and provided them food and shelter for five days, said the OC.

On information, police rescued the woman and her child on Saturday afternoon. Later, she was sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for medical tests.

Primarily, it is suspected that the woman was gang-raped, said the OC.

Drives are on to arrest the other culprits involved in the incident, he added.