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Brutal gang rape of
Minority women at Motbaria, family held hostage:
A HRCBM investigative report
Note: Do you want to help these women and
her family, please sent us your contribution by visiting
http://www.hrcbm.org/news/help.html . Alternatively you can voice on by
writing to the nearest Bangladesh Embassy.
The investigation process
Note: The above diagram
shows how HRCBM initiated the investigation within minutes of the matter being
noticed in the newspaper. After noticing the reports in the newspaper, secretary
of newly formed HRCBM south west chapter HRCBM-Khulna visited Jossore and talked
with local officer in charge. Latter in the evening he called HRCBM
International HQ at California, USA within minutes
of the call, HRCBM’s President Mr. Dhiman Chowdhury called in SP. The
superintendent of police was unavailable to picuk up the phone, a constable by
the name who suggested to call in inspector in charge of jossore police. The
inspector of Jossore police namely “Mr. Ayub Hassan” was cordial and promised to
extend help. Latter HRCBM-dhaka was informed by HRCBM-Khulna. Both chapters
alongwith a group of journalists and police under the leadership of Advocate
Rabindra Ghosh & Sudhangshu Mallick visited the spot and reported their
findings.
An appeal
It is being reported that some ruling party
leaders are involved in misdemeanor with police, they are excerpting pressure on
police to release the criminals those has been arrested. The corrupted
politicians have also warned victims those who are under police custody at a
jossore jail to withdraw the case or they will face the dire consequences.
Henceforth, We at HRCBM would like to appeal all human rights organizations and women lawyers group to extend a helping hand in procuring justice for these women and thus ensuring the safety and security of the family.
The report
Prepared in Bengali by Mr. Sudhangshu Mallick, secretary HRCBM-Khulna date 05/02/04. The report is translated in English by HRCBM volunteer.
At the night of 21st April two minority women namely Sabita Rani
Biswas and Kalidasi were brutally gang raped in Motbaria village under Kotuwali
thana of Jossore district.
A gang of notorious thug of the same village attacked the family and gang raped
both women. The thugs are Hafijur Rahman, Ajehar, Mahiruddin, Muktar Ali and
Moti. The thugs then warned the victims not to tell anybody or inform police and
held the entire family hostage for days. But the news licked out through
whispers which picked up by some courageous journalists and informed to police.
Latter police rushed to the spot on 28th April, 2004 and rescued both
of the women. They also arrested four of the criminals and brought them to
Jossore.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka and HRCBM-Khulna): Photo shows arrested
criminals who gang rape Sabita and Kalidasi.
Latter, the incident was noticed by members of newly formed
HRCBM-Khulna chapter who latter informed HRCBM’s International head quarter and
HRCBM-dhaka chapter and both chapters together conducted a thorough
investigation for two days.
They have talked with victims, relatives of the victims, police and local
administration, doctor of the local hospital who treated the victims, local
journalists, leaders of minority community and local community to prepare this
report.
Place and incident
The “Motbaria” is a remote village under Dewara union of
kotuwali thana, jossore district.
It is situated approximately 15 to 16 kilometer from Kotuwali thana. Hindu and
Muslim both live side by side here. 60 minority families lived in this village,
of whom, many are lower middle class. These poor minorities mainly live on day
labor job, paddy harvest and fishing.
The gang rape victim Kalidasi is a house wife of this village. Her age is 35.
Husband Dilip Biswas is a fisherman by profession. Kalidasi has two sons Dilip
and Miton and both are studying class X and VIII respectively.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka and HRCBM-Khulna): The victims; from left
Sabita rani and right Kalidasi.
Other victim of brutal gang rape is Sabita Rani Biswas is also a house wife of the same village. Her husband is Bhoven Biswas who abandoned her for a while. The victim has one 15 year old son and 11 year old daughter namely Gopal and protima. Sabita and Kalidasi are cousin sisters.
It was the night of 21st April, Wednesday and
Sabita was sleeping at Kalidasi’s house. At around 1:30 AM at night , the thugs
of the same village namely Hafijur rahman son of Sukur Mondol, Ajehar son of
Nachir, Mahiruddin son of Rajob Ali, Muktar ali son of Kismat Mondal, Matiur
Rahman son of Rashid and Montu son of Kader attacked the house. They held the
entire family hostage with swords and knives. They first snatched away Sabita
and raped her brutally one after another and then attacked Kalidasi and Hafijur
dragged her to the kitchen. And there they brutally gang raped Kalidasi. They
left the unconscious body of the women and warned the family for dire
consequence if the matter licked out. The miscreants literally held the family
hostage through intimidation until the victims are rescued by police on 28 th
April. Police arrested four of the miscreants and held the victims on safe
custody at local jail. On 29th April, Sabita filed FIR (First
Information Report) at Jossore Kotuwali thana. Police has recorded the case
under Children and women protection law 9(3) dhara. The case number is 66 dated
29th April, 2004.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka and HRCBM-Khulna): The statements of Kalidasi
before the Jossore Court.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka and HRCBM-Khulna): The statements of Sabita before the Jossore Court.
At the same day, Police has presented them before court which has ordered safe custody for the women and medical examination on 2nd may, 2004.
Sabita and Kalidasi have given their statements before the first class magistrate of the Jossore court under 168 dhara.
Statements of Police
The sub inspector of Jsoore thana Mr. Akkas Ali is the investigative office of this case. When he was asked to detail the case by Advocate Rabindra Ghosh, President of HRCBM-Dhaka and Sudhangshu Mallick, secretary of HRCBM-Khulna, the officer stated, they have apprehended the criminals on 28th April at night based on report received. They brought victims and criminals to the police station and recorded a case on 29th April. At the same day they have presented the victims before the court who ordered safe custody of the women. The officer has also notified HRCBM members that due to the late medical examination this case may become weak.
Indicating arrested criminals are notorious, police imparted that the family members and relative are getting pressure threatening and pressure from god father of the criminals. A political group is extremely involved in dismissing the case who are also excerpting pressure on police.
Victims statements
HRCBM representatives first met with them at Jossore
hospital where the victims were brought for medical examination. Sabita and
Kalidasi described their ordeal with tearful eyes. They brooked into utter
crying while giving the statements to HRCBM. The victims are fearful of their
life and told our representative that the supporters of the criminals or
criminal themselves may kill them anytime. Sabita and Kalidasi’s family are
since absconding and escaped from the village fearing further attack on them.
Fearing the life, Kalidasi’s son Dipak is absconding and not found while writing
this report. It is to be noted that Hafijur has also occupied 5 kata land of
Kalidasi. The victims think, Hafijur and his gang has planed to wipe them out of
the village and the torture is just the beginning of the conspiracy.
Thorough Investigation
HRCBM has done a massive and thorough investigation on the incident and visited the hot spot “motbaria” village. They talked with Kalidasi’s mother Astobala. She was unable to disclose everything at first due to constant pressure on them. Astobala whispered, if she says anything against the criminals she will be killed.
Her relatives were also tight lipped fearing repercussion. Apart from victims’s relatives, some journalists from Jossore namely Pradip Ghosh, Riton and Ltion alongwith right activist Mukul and local minority leaders asserted that the family is not safe in this village. Minorities from neighboring village also asserted that it is extremely dangerous fro the family to live in that village. The criminals may get release and killed them latter.
HRCBM’s Activity
The representatives of the organization have appealed before the local administration for the protection of the family. They also offered the victims to be placed at its Orphanage temporarily until the criminals are punished and the organization will also ask for there custody in the court so that the victims can be placed at its orphanage until criminals are sentenced.