Refusing to be a victim
Harasser arrested from video recorded by girl
Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) have arrested a youth in the city for harassing a girl on the streets last week, after the girl caught the incident on video with her phone and shared it with law enforcers.
Tanvir Ahmed Siddique, 23, one of the accused in the case was held from Mia Khan Nagar at Bahaddarhat area in the city last night, said Mohammad Mohsin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station.
Another accused Md Sohel, 28, is absconding, said the OC.
At a press conference at the police station, Farhena Nourin, 23, insisted that journalists publish her identity, so that others do not fear to protest such incidents.
Nourin, a student of Government City College, was returning home from Kadamtali area of the port city at around 2:30pm on March 6, when she came across the two.
“Riding a motorcycle, two men pulled my scarf from behind and touched me. They later came before the rickshaw I was on, and began to tease me. As I shouted, they hurled abusive words and made suggestive gestures,” she said.
As she took out her phone started filming them, the youths left the scene, she said, adding that later that night she shared the video with OC Mohsin via Facebook. The OC shared the video from his personal account and page, asking help from citizens to identify the culprits.
“In most of such incidents, victims hide their identity in the fear of further abuse or loss of social dignity. The criminals, not us, should be afraid. We must be vocal about our own dignity,” said Farhena.
OC Mohsin told The Daily Star that someone identified one of the men in the video on Friday, and police arrested him under Section 54 the same night. Yesterday morning, the girl identified her stalker and filed a case, in which he was then shown arrested and sent to court. The motorbike used in the incident was also seized, he added.
“The arrestee confessed to committing the crime and confirmed the identity of his accomplice. We will arrest him very soon,” said the OC, adding that the courage of Farhena made their job easier.
Md Kamruzzaman, inspector (investigation) of Kotwali Police Station, said the other person, Sohel, is also an accused of two narcotics cases filed with Bakalia Police Station.