Held in Rape Case: Four children handed over to their parents

Four  children from Bakerganj in Barishal, who were arrested in a rape case,  have been handed over to their parents yesterday  after they were released from Jashore Children Development  Centre in line with a High Court directive issued on Thursday night.

"Officer-in-charge of Bakerganj Police Station informed me at 8:30am today  over phone that the four children were handed over to their parents.  They were carried in a microbus with proper police  protection. Local administration of Jashore has made the arrangement," said Supreme Court spokesperson Mohammad Saifur Rahman.

At 9:30pm on Thursday, two High Court judges operated a bench and directed Nari o Shishu  Nirjaton Daman Tribunal of Barishal to instantly  grant bail to the four, arrested on October 6 in a case filed on charges of  raping a six-year-old at Bakerganj.

In  a suomuto (voluntary) order, the HC directed the authorities to release the children -- 10 to 12 years of age -- from the custody of Children Development Centre at Pulerhat in Jashore on bail and hand them over to their guardians that night.

The OC was ordered to submit a report to the  SC special officer in this regard.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Mohi Uddin  Shamim came up with the order following a report broadcast on a private  television channel on the incident of arresting the children and inhumanly taking them to the centre,  following rejection of their bail prayer. Court sources said the HC judges ordered Senior Judicial Magistrate of Barishal Enayet Ullah, who rejected the petitions, to appear before the bench on Sunday to  place his explanation.

The  HC bench  also ordered the  OC to appear before the bench along with the children and their guardians tomorrow and asked the registrar of Barishal Medical College Hospital to submit a medical report of the victim child. The HC will also hold a hearing on the issue tomorrow.

The tribunal granted bail to  the children immediately after receiving the HC order.

The incident took place on October 4. According to the case statement, the four boys raped the girl in the pretext of playing. The victim disclosed the matter to her mother after she fell sick on Oct 6. Her father filed the case the same day.

Bakerganj  police arrested them on October 7 and produced them to the court of  senior judicial magistrate Enayet Ullah the same day. He rejected their  bail petitions and ordered police to send them to the development centre.