Family Demands Arrest of Fugitive Rape Suspect

The family of a 15-year-old girl in Kalmakanda Upazila, Netrokona, has alleged receiving threats to withdraw a rape case filed against a local youth. More than a week after the incident, local police have yet to apprehend the sole accused. Consequently, the victim’s family is experiencing severe distress and a profound lack of security, leading them to urgently demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrator.

Incident Background and Legal Action

According to accounts from local residents, the police, and the victim’s family, the incident occurred on the morning of 14 May. The teenage girl was alone at her residence at the time. Her two brothers had left for their madrasa, her father was away harvesting paddy in the haor (wetland), and her mother was visiting her maternal home.

Taking advantage of the empty house, the accused, identified as 23-year-old Jahangir Alam, entered the residence at approximately 07:30 BST and locked the door from the inside. He subsequently bound the victim’s hands and mouth with a traditional cotton towel (gamcha) before sexually assaulting her. Later that afternoon, the victim’s mother lodged a formal complaint at the Kalmakanda Police Station, naming Jahangir Alam as the sole accused under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

Case Details and Current Status

Despite the passage of time, the police have been unable to locate or detain the suspect. Jahangir Alam has remained at large since the day of the incident. The key details concerning the case are outlined in the table below:

Allegations of Intimidation and Insecurity

The victim’s mother has expressed profound concern over their safety, stating that associates of the accused have been systematically intimidating the family to force a withdrawal of the lawsuit. The perpetrators are reportedly exerting pressure on the family to accept an out-of-court settlement.

Reflecting on their predicament, the victim’s mother stated:

“I am a poor person. Jahangir ruined my daughter’s life. Now his people are threatening and intimidating us in various ways to withdraw the case, offering proposals for a compromise. Although the police initially visited the area to investigate shortly after the case was filed, no significant progress has been observed since. We are living in great fear. I demand exemplary punishment for him.”

Efforts to contact Jahangir Alam and his father via their mobile phones for a response to these allegations were unsuccessful, as both of their devices remained switched off.

Official Response from Law Enforcement

When questioned about the status of the investigation and the delay in making an arrest, Sub-Inspector (SI) Noor Alam, the investigating officer from Kalmakanda Police Station, confirmed that the suspect had fled the area immediately following the incident. He assured that law enforcement officials are actively pursuing multiple leads to apprehend him.

Regarding the allegations of witness intimidation and pressure to compromise, SI Noor Alam clarified that the victim’s family had not formally reported these threats to the police. However, he reiterated the department’s commitment to the case, expressing confidence that the suspect would be brought to justice swiftly.