Victims being denied justice: Rights groups

Right activists yesterday expressed their frustration at police's failure to identify the rapists of two Tripura girls of Bandarban, though the victims have already identified them.

Two Tripura girls, aged 12 and 17, were allegedly raped by two members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Lama upazila of the district on August 22.

“Delaying means denying justice to the victims,” said Rina Roy, Director, Programme, Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).

She was speaking at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity, organised by eight rights organisations that have recently visited Lama and recorded statements of locals.

They talked with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, officer-in-charge of Lama Police Station, local representatives and others.

Reading out a statement, Rina said calling out victims from their home and raping them at gun-point is a grave allegation.

“Though police have arrested one indigenous woman -- Jonerun Tripura -- in connection with the case, the main accused are yet to be arrested, which is very concerning and a violation of law,” she said.

Quoting Subhash Tripura, former president of Tripura Kalyan Samity, Rina said that the accused have admitted to the rape to the victims' brothers.

“There is no doubt about the identity of the accused,” she said, adding they heard that the accused BGB members have been transferred to another camp.

Officer-in-charge of Lama Police Station Appela Raju Naha told the rights activists that they have already given a letter to BGB camp to identify the accused. “After the identification, accused will be arrested and brought to book,” Rina quoted Appela as saying.

Demanding fair investigation, Rina said the accused should be arrested immediately and given exemplary punishment.

Besides MJF, representatives of Ain o Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha, Kapaeeng Foundation, Jono Udyog and Bangladesh Adivasi Nari Network were present at the press conference.