Rapist goes into hiding

Police yesterday raided video stores in Pirojpur and arrested three on charge of trading in CDs containing footage of rape of a schoolgirl by a local leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
The law enforcers filed a case against the three and an unspecified number of accused on charges of rape, blackmail and distribution of obscene video footage in the market, said Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pirojpur sadar police Mir Fashiar Rahman.
The police also visited the family of the victim and assured them of all legal aid and security.
The move came after The Daily Star reported Monday on the rape and taking footage of the scene by Ahsan Kabir Mamun alias Mamun Hawlader, information and research secretary of district unit BCL, student front of ruling Awami League.
The arrestees are Suman Talukdar, son of Abdul Hye Talukdar and owner of Soukhin Audio-Video Corner at Gopal Krishna Town Club Market, Shahin Howladar, son of Jabbar Howladar of Khamkata and apprentice worker of Digital Mobile Servicing Centre on Pourashava Road, and Faisal Gazi, son of Siddik Gazi of Shikarpur and buyer of a CD.
The police say they detected the video store after interrogating buyer Faisal Gazi yesterday morning and arrested the two others and seized some CDs.
Asked about any possible move to net the rapist BCL leader, Pirojpur police say they would probe the matter and arrest everyone responsible for rape, record of the rape and trading of the CDs.
Md Shahidullah Chowdhury, superintendent of police, Pirojpur, told The Daily Star they would continue their drive to seize the video footage from the market and arrest all culprits.
The law enforcers also visited the family of the victim and assured them all sorts of legal cooperation, safety and security, Chowdhury added.
A similar incident took place in Faridpur where a girl was gang-raped and the video was released in the market. Since July Faridpur police could not arrest anyone in this regard.