Teacher plotted torture of father, son: police
The incident of torturing a father and his son in a Faridpur school classroom "over rape" was a teacher's ploy to get custody of the man's girl, said police.
Israt Zahar Lipi, 44, an assistant teacher of Aruakandi Government Primary School under Faridpur's Madhukhali upazila, was the mastermind of the plot, said police.
"She [Lipi] incited the incident to take guardianship of the man's girl," said Md Shahjahan, the district's superintendent of police (SP), in a press conference at his office.
However, Lipi denied the allegation.
The eight-year-old girl lives with her father Yamin Mridha, 40, and step brother at Majkandi area under Madhukhali upazila.
"The girl's mother died when she was born. Lipi does not have a child. The teacher liked the girl so much since she was admitted to the school. She often took the child to her residence," the SP added.
But the girl's father did not like it. As a result, a feud grew between the teacher and the father.
On March 17, the teacher called the child's father and step brother to the school. Then, some locals along with the teacher confined them inside a classroom and brought a "false" allegation that the step brother raped the girl. Then, the people brutally tortured the father and son, said the SP.
On March 20, Yamin Mridha filed two cases with Madhukhali Police Station. One was field against 13 people for torturing him and against his son allegedly for raping the latter's stepsister.
The incident came to light on March 25 night when a video clip of the torture went viral on social media.
Then, police started an investigation.
"When police took the girl for medical test, she told us that no one raped her. The school teacher taught her to follow the plan," said the SP.
Contacted, Yamin said, "Lipi wants to take my daughter. Earlier, she took my daughter many times to her house without informing us."
Contacted, Lipi denied the allegations and said she did not know anything about the torture.
Seven people have so far been arrested in connection with the incident of torture, said Suman Kar, assistant superintendent of police in Faridpur, yesterday.
Sirajul Islam, primary education officer of Madukhali Upazila, told The Daily Star, "A three-member investigation committee has been formed to probe the incident. Departmental action will be taken, if any the teacher is found guilty."