Police in Lohagara, Chittagong, have arrested three men following the gang rape of a young woman who was lured to the area under the false pretext of marriage after a romance that originated from an accidental phone call. The suspects were produced before a Chittagong court on Wednesday morning following a targeted two-day law enforcement operation across the upazila.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ehsan and Haris Miah, both residents of the Faranga area within Putibila Union, alongside Nazrul Islam from neighbouring Soraiya Easinpara. All three suspects were apprehended at their respective residences during coordinated police raids.
According to police records and statements from local officials, the victim, a resident of Ramu in Cox’s Bazar district, first came into contact with Ehsan six months ago when a phone call was dialed to a wrong number. Over the subsequent months, regular telephone conversations led to a romantic relationship. Capitalising on her trust, Ehsan eventually offered a proposal of marriage and persuaded her to travel to Lohagara to settle down.
Trusting his assurances, the young woman boarded a bus from Ramu on Saturday evening, arriving at the Keranihat junction in Lohagara at approximately 11:00 pm. Ehsan met her at the bus stop and ushered her into a CNG-driven auto-rickshaw, ostensibly to take her to a safe location. Instead, he drove her to a dark, deserted orchard in Faranga, where his two accomplices, Haris Miah and Nazrul Islam, were already waiting in the shadows.
The victim was held against her will in the isolated orchard and subjected to a repeated sexual assault by all three men throughout the night. After the assailants threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed the ordeal, the woman managed to seek help and made her way directly to Lohagara Police Station to seek legal protection.
Following the victim’s official complaint, police immediately initiated a formal case under the provisions of the Prevention of Women and Children Repression Act. Authorities arranged for the victim to undergo medical examinations and forensic testing at a government healthcare facility to secure vital evidence for prosecution.
Inspector (Investigation) Prashanta Kumar Bhowmik of Lohagara Police Station confirmed the details of the investigation, stating that police teams acted swiftly to track down the perpetrators. The intensive two-day operation culminated in the capture of all three accused men from their homes. Law enforcement authorities confirmed that further legal proceedings are underway as investigators gather additional witness testimony and medical findings to present a robust case before the court.
