3 held over ‘gang rape’ of speech-impaired woman in Feni

Police arrested three people on Tuesday in connection with the alleged gang rape of a speech-impaired woman in Chhagalnaiya upazila of Feni.

One of the arrestees has been identified as Shakib, 18, of Uttar Choygharia village in the upazila. The identities of the other two suspects have not been disclosed as they are minors. All three are reportedly battery-run easy-bike drivers.

According to police and the victim's family, the suspects allegedly called the woman to an abandoned house in Choygharia under Subhapur union around noon on Friday, offering to provide her with financial assistance.

They allegedly raped her at the house and left her there.

The incident came to light later, after which some local influential people reportedly arranged a village arbitration on Monday night. The accused were allegedly fined 10,000 taka each, totalling 30,000 taka.

The victim's family alleged that the informal arbitration was an attempt to suppress the incident without informing police.

Local Subhapur Union Parishad Member Moksed Alam said he did not attend the arbitration, as a serious criminal offence such as gang rape could not be settled through such a process.

“I told the family members of the woman to take legal action,” he said.

Later, the victim's husband filed a case with Chhagalnaiya Police Station, said its Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abu Taher.

Police arrested the three suspects during an early-morning raid on Tuesday, the OC said.

The victim was sent to Feni General Hospital for a medical examination, he added.

The OC said legal action would also be taken against anyone found to have attempted to suppress the incident through the informal arbitration, depending on the findings of the investigation.