3 sent to jail over rape of a fifth grader

A Noakhali court yesterday sent three men to jail for their alleged involvement in rape of a schoolgirl.

The three -- Borhanuddin, 20, Mehedi Hasan, 18, and Siraj, 18, of the district’s Sadar upazila -- were accused of raping a fifth-grader in the upazila’s Newazpur area, said police.

The victim’s mother filed a case against the three with Sudharam Police Station on Tuesday night.

According to the case statement, Siraj had been stalking the girl for a few months. On Tuesday, he forcibly took the girl to a shop near her school and raped her.

Borhanuddin and Mehedi were guarding Siraj when he committed the crime, the case statement added.

Kazi Md Abdur Rahim, additional superintendent of Noakhali (Sadar circle) police, said all three accused were arrested within a few hours since the complaint was lodged.

The victim was sent to Noakhali General Hospital for medical tests, the police official said, adding that she would also receive treatment there.

Meanwhile, Rab arrested a man in Dhaka’s Kadamtoli area for his alleged involvement in rape of a third grader in Narayanganj’s Rupganj upazila.

The arrestee is Liton Miah, 45, of Narayanganj’s Shantinagar area, said a press statement of Rab-11.

The victim’s mother filed a case with Rupganj Police Station on Monday.

According to the case statement, Liton took the girl to his house luring her with chocolates. He then raped the girl and threatened her not to share her experience with anyone.

The girl only shared the incident when she became sick and asked, added the case statement.