'Forcing' Hindu Girl to Change Religion, Marry
Four lawyers among seven chargesheeted in Satkhira
Our Correspondent, Satkhira
Seven people including four lawyers were chargesheeted yesterday for their involvement in allegedly abducting a minor Hindu girl, forcing her to change her religion and marry a man.The Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Sub-inspector (SI) Rafiqul Islam of Satkhira Sadar police station submitted the charge sheet to a magistrate court at Satkhira after four months' investigation. The investigators said the accused in collaboration with each other abducted Usha Rani and arranged her marriage with Haidar Ali after forcibly converting her to Islam. They were charged under Article 7/9(1)/30 of Women and Children Repression Preventive Act, 2000. The chargesheeted accused are Haidar Ali, Zirarul Islam, and Emam Hossain of Babulia village in Sadar upazila; and lawyers Azharul Islam, Reja Uddowla Bachchu, Ashraful Alam Siddique Mona and Sheikh Sirajul Islam. Prime accused Haidar Ali is in jail while Zirarul Islam and Emam Hossain are absconding, police said. The four lawyers obtained anticipatory bail from High Court. The victim is in safe custody in Bagerhat, court sources said. The sources said, Haidar Ali, Ziarul and Emam abducted Usha Rani Das, 15, daughter of Hira Lal Das of Babulia village in Satkhira Sadar upazila, on March 13. They took her to Satkhira and forcibly converted her to Islam through an affidavit by showing her 18-yerar old. Later the accused managed a marriage declaration by showing her 18 through another affidavit. The lawyers helped Haider, it was alleged. Her mother Laxmi Rani Das filed a case with Sadar police station accusing the seven people including four lawyers.
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