Girl’s family in hiding since arrest of stalkers

A college student and her family members have been living away from their neighbourhood in Charghat, Rajshahi, for 11 days for fear of reprisals after her father accused a local man and four of his friends in a case of stalking and attempted rape.

The girl, her parents, grandmother and cousins, at a press conference at the office of Rajshahi Union of Journalists yesterday said the main accused was Zafar Ali, 28.

On June 24 last year, Zafar, Jiban Ali, Sabbir Hossain, Ratul and Likhan abducted her and took her to Zafar's house where they attempted to rape her. They were also filming the incident before locals and police rescued her.

The girl's father said police refused to record their case and he had to lodge the case with a Rajshahi court.

Besides, Zafar filed two cases against the girl's family members, accusing them of assaulting his wife and stealing valuables.

On January 27 this year, a court sent Zafar and his accomplices to jail in the case filed by the girl's father.

After they were sent to jail, Zafar's family members and local men close to him started threatening the girl's family and asking them to withdraw the case.

"We don't feel safe at home since they got arrested," said the girl's father, who is a government officer.

He added that Zafar and his cohorts were involved in drug dealing and carried substantial clout in the area.

Asked about the allegation that police were reluctant to record the case, Jahangir Alam, officer-in-charge of Charghat Police Station, said he could not remember the incident.