Four Arrested Including Truck Driver Over Gang Rape of Mentally Disabled Woman

In the Banglabandha land port area of Tetulia upazila in Panchagarh, a 28-year-old (approximate) mentally disabled woman has been allegedly gang-raped. Yesterday morning, Wednesday, four individuals, including a truck driver, were arrested in connection with the incident. They were later brought to court at night, where the judge ordered them to be sent to jail.

Locals said that the woman had been roaming around the Banglabandha land port area for over six months. While she is able to speak, she could not provide her name or identity. She has been admitted to Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital for a health check-up.

According to police sources, the gang rape took place early yesterday morning behind a shop room opposite the main gate of the Banglabandha land port. Security personnel and local residents detained four suspects and first handed them over to the village police, who then transferred them to Tetulia Model Police Station.

The arrested individuals are: Sohel Sheikh (32), a truck driver from Chadina-Shibganj Dakshinpara, Shibganj, Bogura; Mostofa Hanif (21), the driver’s assistant from the same area; Md. Hasan (20) from Manikchak-Uttarpara, Bogura Sadar; and Rajibul Islam (19) from Namuja-Bhandaripara, same upazila.

Following the incident, Banglabandha Union Parishad’s village police Md. Habibulla filed a gang rape case against the four at Tetulia Model Police Station. The police later presented them in court. The victim woman was also present in court.

Md. Bulbul, member of Ward 1 of Banglabandha UP, said that the mentally disabled woman can speak but cannot provide her name or identity. She had been living on the streets of the area for some time. Locals reported that the truck driver and his accomplices raped the woman at night.

Tetulia Model Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Asaduzzaman stated that the CID and PBI are assisting in identifying the victim. He added that the court has ordered the four to jail, and the victim woman is undergoing a health examination.

Khaborwala/TSN