Family alleges police didn't receive case, released accused

An eighth grader was allegedly raped by her cousin on August 15 and since then she has been undergoing treatment at Patuakhali General Hospital.

Her family claimed that they went to Mirzaganj Police Station to file a case immediately but police did not record it as FIR (First Information Record) when they brought the accused to the police station.

Police also released the accused later, her family claimed.

The victim, daughter of Eunus Bepari from Maida village under Mirzaganj upazila, is a student of a Dakhil madrasa.

The accused, identified as Md Rasel, 25, son of Abdur Razzak Sikder of the same village, is her cousin. He is unemployed.

According to the girl, at about 1:00pm on August 15, her parents were out of the house. Rasel came over to their house and raped her.

Upon hearing her cries for help, neighbours arrived and rescued her; Rasel managed to flee.

In the evening, she was taken to Mirzaganj Upazila Hospital and the on-duty doctor referred her to Patuakhali General Hospital.

Morsheda Begum, a staff nurse, said she is undergoing treatment as a “rape victim”.

“The next day we went to Mirzaganj Police Station and submitted a written complaint but they [police] didn't record the case,” said Md Sajib, her brother-in-law.

Sub-inspector Bimol Kumar brought the accused to the police station in the evening the next day, he said.

But after several hours, a local influential person took Rasel away from the police station, Sajib claimed.

SI Bimol Kumar denied the claim and said he had visited the spot and found no evidence of rape.

Masumur Rahman Biswas, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mizaganj Police Station, said during the incident he was on leave and later on learnt that they did not file the case.

There has been an ongoing conflict over a piece of land between both the families, he said, adding that Rasel has been handed over to his father.

Contacted, Md Moinul Hasan, superintendent of police, said he has already asked the OC to take necessary steps regarding the incident.