Police have arrested the wife of a madrasah teacher after a case was filed on Thursday over the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl at a Qawmi madrasah in Savar the previous day.

The officer-in-charge (OC) of Savar Model Police Station confirmed the arrest, saying the girl’s grandfather filed the case.

According to the case statement, the girl, a fifth-grade student at Tohfatul Jannat Women Madrasah in Savar, was allegedly raped by the institution’s head, Abdul Bari, 50, on Wednesday. The incident reportedly took place inside the madrasah building, which also serves as the accused teacher’s residence. His wife, Mosammat Tohfa, 40, allegedly assisted him.

Police arrested Tohfa, while Abdul Bari remains at large.

The alleged incident sparked outrage in the area, with local residents vandalising the madrasah and the teacher’s residence on Wednesday night.

After receiving information about the incident, a team from the Birulia police outpost went to the madrasah. Abdul Bari was not at home at the time, but his wife and son were present.

As police were preparing to take them to the police station, local residents began vandalising the building, leaving police personnel and others inside trapped.

Another team from Savar Model Police Station, along with members of the Detective Branch, subsequently arrived at the scene.