Police Refuse Case After Abducted Schoolgirl Found Unconscious in Ranisankail

Police in Ranisankail, Thakurgaon, face growing scrutiny over allegations of professional negligence after refusing to register a criminal case involving the abduction and assault of a ninth-grade schoolgirl.

Despite submitting a formal written complaint to the local police station, the victim’s family was repeatedly turned away. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) allegedly offered various excuses before instructing the distressed relatives to pursue the matter through the courts instead. Left with little alternative, the family has submitted an official petition to the Thakurgaon Superintendent of Police (SP) in search of justice.

Midnight Abduction and Emergency Hospitalisation

According to official documents and statements from the victim’s family, the incident took place on the night of 1 July in Jawgaon village, located within the Nanduar Union of Ranisankail Upazila. The victim is the ninth-grade daughter of an expatriate worker currently employed in Egypt.

The teenager had stepped outside her home late that evening to use the outdoor sanitary facilities. Three local youths had set an ambush near the toilet block. The assailants forcibly restrained the girl, covered her mouth, and made her inhale a chemical substance that rendered her unconscious. They then dragged her away from the property before dumping her unconscious body behind the toilet block and fleeing the scene.

Alarmed by her prolonged absence, her family and neighbours mounted a search across the surrounding compound. They discovered the unconscious teenager a short time later and rushed her to the Ranisankail Upazila Health Complex for emergency medical treatment. She recounted the details of the attack to her relatives after regaining consciousness at the hospital.

Months of Unchecked Harassment

The victim’s mother, Rani Akhtar, explained that three local boys had been systematically stalking her daughter on her daily commute to and from school for months. The youths frequently shouted offensive remarks, made unsolicited romantic proposals, and subjected the teenager to continuous intimidation.

Repeated complaints brought directly to the parents of the suspects yielded no resolution or change in behavior. The three accused individuals named in the complaint are:

• Pavel (16): Son of Abdul Aziz

• Badal alias Upasu (17): Son of Sahadat

• Rimon Ali (15): Son of Shahjahan

All three suspects are residents of the same village. Subsequent efforts by reporters to contact the trio or their families for comment were unsuccessful.

Allegations of Political Protection and Police Delay

Following the assault, Rani Akhtar lodged a formal written statement (ejahar) at Ranisankail Police Station naming the three youths. Station officials initially assured the mother that prompt legal action would be taken. However, days turned into weeks as the Officer-in-Charge repeatedly delayed recording the First Information Report (FIR).

The family alleges that the police station’s refusal to act stems from political pressure exerted by Jamirul Islam, the President of the Nanduar Union BNP unit and a former Union Parishad Chairman. Family members claim the accused youths operate under his direct protection, causing local officers to hesitate.

Rani Akhtar, the Victim’s Mother: “My daughter faced harassment for months. When I submitted the written complaint, the OC initially promised action, but then made us run back and forth for days without lodging the case. Instead of taking legal action, they pressured us to settle the matter locally. We were forced to appeal directly to the Superintendent of Police.”

Following the submission of the petition to the SP’s office, senior district police officers visited Jawgaon village to inspect the crime scene and gather preliminary evidence.

Official Explanations and Conflicting Claims

When questioned by journalists about his decision to reject the complaint, the Officer-in-Charge of Ranisankail Police Station, Amanullah Al Bari, defended his position by questioning the authenticity of the claims. He stated that the entire incident appeared “staged and false” during preliminary checks, which justified his refusal to open a case file.

Conversely, local political leader Jamirul Islam rejected all allegations of political interference or patronage.

Jamirul Islam, Former Union Parishad Chairman: “I have no connection whatsoever to this unfortunate incident. My name has been dragged into this matter intentionally by a faction seeking to tarnish my reputation. I have never contacted the police station to influence officers or stop them from registering a case.”

Higher authorities within the district police administration have taken notice of the controversy. Thakurgaon Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance), Mohammad Khodadad Hossain, confirmed that the SP’s office has received the family’s written petition.

He assured the public that a thorough and impartial investigation is underway to determine the facts, promising strict disciplinary and legal measures against anyone found responsible if the allegations are substantiated.