Police admit 'partial failure'

Chittagong police yesterday admitted their “partial failure” in taking prompt action in the case of rape of four women during robbery in Karnaphuli upazila.

Harun-ur-Rashid Hazari, deputy police commissioner (port) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), at a press briefing at Karnafuli Police Station explained CMP's position regarding the case.

He admitted that there was a delay in taking the case and also arresting the accused. Replying to a question regarding the 'mysterious role' of the officer-in-charge of Karnaphuli Police Station in handling the case, Hazari said, "I will inform the CMP Commissioner about this."

The commissioner might take action in this regard as soon as the accused are arrested, he added.

In a written statement, Hazari also claimed that the complainant did not mention that rapes were committed when he went to the police station some three days after the incident.

Earlier on December 12, a gang of robbers allegedly raped four women -- three wives of three expatriate siblings and their sister-in-law -- after committing robbery in their house.

On December 13, Karnaphuli police sent the victims' family members to Patia Police Station when they went there to file a case while Patia police sent them back to Karnaphuli police.

After seven days, with the interference of State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, police finally took the case and showed arrested three people in this connection.