OC closed for letting rapist go

The officer-in-charge of Haragachh Police Station has been closed as he allegedly let go a rape suspect hours after his arrest without recording a case against him in Rangpur’s Kaunia upazila.  

OC Nazmul Quader was closed to Rangpur Metropolitan Police on Monday night, said Altaf Hossain, an assistant commissioner (media). 

Police again arrested accused Sohel Rana, 27, of Thakurdas village under Haragachh municipality, around 9:00pm, said Faruk Hossain, assistant commissioner (Mahiganj zone) of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.

The arrest was made after the rape victim’s father had filed a case against Sohel, a part-time teacher at a local high school, that night. 

He was produced before a Rangpur court yesterday and the court sent him to jail. 

Talking to this correspondent, the father said his daughter, a college girl, went to her tutor Sohel on Saturday afternoon. But he took her to a remote place in Boterhat village and raped her there. 

Later, the girl returned home and disclosed the incident. 

On information, Haragachh police arrested Sohel on Saturday night and took him to the police station. After his arrest, Rakibul Hasan, chairman of Haragachh union and councillor of Haragachh municipality Mahbubur Rahman, went to the police station and started lobbying for freeing Sohel, said the father. 

Early Sunday, the chairman and the councillor left the police station with Sohel. The two then arranged an arbitration at the Haragachh union complex where they put pressure on the victim’s family to settle the matter. But their attempt failed as local journalists appeared there. 

The father said Rakibul became angry as they tried to talk to journalists. Later, Rakibul and Mahbubur left the spot.  

Talking to The Daily Star over phone, Rakibul said sorry for what he had done. 

OC Nazmul told this correspondent that the victim’s father came to his police station to file a case on Saturday. But he did not record the case as he thought the place of occurrence is under Kaunia Police Station.

But police high officials said the incident took place in Haragachh area.  

Meanwhile, the girl was sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for tests yesterday morning.