Rape by ‘OC, Others’: Victim’s family being followed, threatened

Family members of a woman, allegedly gang-raped by an OC and several other policemen in Khulna on Friday, say they are feeling insecure as some plainclothesmen are constantly keeping them under watch.

Several unknown callers also warned them of dire consequences if they did not settle the matter through negotiations outside court, alleged the woman’s mother.

Talking to The Daily Star at her home in Khulna city yesterday, the mother of the woman, a 30-year-old widow, said unknown people had gone there several times since Saturday. 

“They are looking for the male members of our family. They are not saying why they are doing this.”

Meanwhile, the Police Headquarters yesterday formed a separate three-member probe committee, headed by Shehela Parvin, superintendent of Railway Police, to investigate the incident.

The body was asked to submit its report within seven working days, said Assistant Inspector General (media) Md Sohel Rana.

Earlier on Monday, the Railway Police had formed another three-member committee, headed by Firoz Ahmed, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) of Kushtia Railway Circle. It would also file its report within seven days.

Talking to The Daily Star, the mother of the woman said, “Yesterday, three men appeared here and asked about my son. He is now hiding to avoid harassment. I along with my grandchildren is passing days in fear.” 

The victim, a 30-year-old widow, has a son aged 10 and two daughters aged 2 and 4. 

Talking to the newspaper, a cousin of the woman, who is running a legal battle on her behalf, said, “During the last two days, some 10 to 12 people came to my home and interrogated me about different issues. I can’t move freely.”

Their lawyer, advocate Faruq Ahmed, said they would file a case over the rape once the medical report was available.

Contacted, Khulna Medical College Hospital’s forensic department chief Dr Shafiuzzaman said it might take around a week to prepare the medical report. 

He, however, said they found no injury marks.

But when the victim was taken to a court on Saturday, she seemed ill. At this, some court staffers suggested the Railway Police to take her to a hospital. She was then taken to Khulna Sadar Hospital and prescribed some medicines, said court sources.

The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the prescription from the sources.

Meanwhile, the probe body, formed by the Railway Police, visited several areas yesterday of the city as part of its investigation.

The correspondent went to Khulna Railway Police twice yesterday, first at around 11:00am and then around 3:00pm, but none of the accused was found there.

Contacted, the district’s superintendent of police, M Safiullah, suggested this correspondent to talk to the Railway Police.

When this correspondent called Mohammad Nazrul Islam, SP of Pakshi Railway Police, on his mobile phone, he said he would talk later.

On Friday evening, the woman came to Khulna from Jashore by train to visit her mother, who was undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH).

The woman was detained inside the train by Railway Police in Phultala Railway Station at around 7:30pm. She was then forced to disembark and was taken to Khulna Railway Station.

At a residential building for members of General Railway Police (GRP), the first to rape her was Osman Gani Pathan, OC of Government Railway Police Station in Khulna. After him, the other policemen raped her. The next day, the alleged rapists filed a case against the victim for possessing five bottles of Phensedyl, after which a court sent her to jail.

On Sunday, the victim filed a bail petition with the district’s additional chief judicial magistrate’s court and filed the complaint against the policemen. The victim told the court that five police men raped her. But she could tell only the name of the OC. The court then sent her to KMCH for a medical test, her sister said.

However, the OC had been denying allegations terming it false and baseless. Even, he claimed he was not present at the police station that night.

Meanwhile, in separate statements, rights body Ain of Salish Kendra (ASK) and Bangladesh Mohila Parishad demanded fair investigation into the incident and trial of the perpetrators, if found guilty. 

A human chain was formed by Janno Udjog at Picture Palace in Khulna city yesterday, demanding investigation into the rape and punishment of the rapists.