Brutal Gang Rape of a Minority Hindu Girl at Shibalaya, Manikganj, Bangladesh 

 

Investigation conducted by Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), Dhaka on 16th May, 2003 at Akua, Shibalaya P.S. Manikganj Dist.

An Investigative report from HRCBM

Written by: Advocate Rabindra Ghosh, HRCBM-Dhaka, Bangladesh

HRCBM-Dhaka has visited the place of occurrence at Akua within Shibalaya police station where one minor girl Shilpi Rani Chakravorty (17) daughter of Shymal Chakravorty was gang raped by the local rapists on 27th April, 2003.

Meeting with Police officers at Shibalaya Police station

On the way to Faridpur I reached at Shibalaya police station at Manikganj District at about 12-30 p.m. and found Sub-Inspector, Md. Zahid Hossaina of the said police station and I have been informed that the respective Investigating officer of rape case No.25 dated 29.4.2003 filed by Miss Shilpi Rani Chakravorty is Khandakar Md. Shafiqul Alam, O.C. of Shibalaya police station. I contacted with O.C. over cellular Telephone No.0171-162383 and talked with him about the case and also requested him to help go to Akua which is 20 kilometers from Shibalaya police station. The O.C. directed one Sub-Inspector of the Shibalaya to accompany me in the place of occurrence and the house of the victim Shilpi Rani. They told me that destination is quite remote and there are no good communication facilities to reach easily.
We along with one Sub-Inspector of Police proceeded towards Akua village from the police station by a motor cycle at about 2-30 and reached Akua at about 3-30 p.m.

Picture: Victim of brutality Ms. Shilpi Rani Chakravorty (17)  is seen here describing her ordeal in front of police Sub Inspector and HRCBM-Dhaka representative Advocate Rabindra Ghosh. Police officer was taken there by HRCBM to hear from the victim herself.

Picture: Prof. Ashoke Taru of HRCBM-Dhaka is seen taking statement of the victim allowing HRCBM to move further on procuring justice for her.

Background Information
The incident of rape took place on last 27th April,03 at Akua village twenty kilometers from Shibalaya police station. As usual a group of terrorists belonging to known political parties, raided the house of the priest Shymal Chakravorty, at midnight. The gang consisted of (1) Akkas Ali @ Aku Gazi, (2) Lutfar Pramanik, 3) Mannan 4) Sahadad Hossain @ Khadu Sai and others of the same village. The attackers forcibly entered into the house and broke open the rooms. The terrorists tied the father of the victim with a rope to a nearby nut tree, two brothers to another tree. A group members with ill motive held back mother - Renu Bala  Chakravroty (42) outside the room. The terrorists first of all demanded 50 thousand taka, as per version of the priest. The priest family is not that wealthy that on sudden demand they could supply huge amount of money. As the male members expressed inability to pay money, the horror of torture started over the innocent girl - Shilpi Rani (17). The terrorists one after another raped the girl and rendered her in an unconscious mood. The members of the priest family were not in a position to resist them, as the attackers were equipped with deadly weapons and most of the members of the family were tied by rope so that they can not move.
With a view to ascertain the authenticity of gang-rape incident we have asked the following witnesses in presence of the Sub-Inspector of Police, Shibalaya P.S. who all admitted the fact and expressed their anguish and sought for punishment of the culprits responsible for the heinous offence.
Witnesses
 1. Md. Sultan Khan
2. Sontosh Sutradhar
3. Sahidul Islam Shahid son of Md. Abul Faruk
4. Padma Rani Das daughter of Bikash Kumar Das
5. Dhiren Das son of late Furna Chandra Das
6. Bikash Kumar Das son of late Patit Paban Das
7.Biswanath Adkhikary son of Sailen Adkikary
8.Peara Begum wife of Sultan Khan & All the villagers of  Shibalaya P.s. Manikganj.

Statements of victim
The victim-Shilpi Chakravorty, first of all, did not want us to ask any question on her as on that date (16th May, 03 ) there was a function at her house on the occasion "Death Anniversary of her grand father" but later on expressed that if I personally asked her in a separate room conditionally and I accordingly asked the victim girl in a room how many rapists went her to rape at night. Shilpi burst into tears and felt shame to express. She told me that she could identify rapist Aku Gazi and Lutfur Pramanik.  Aku Gazi forced her to come down from the Chowki covering her mouth forcefully and raped one after another and abandoned her in an unconscious situation. As hue and cry started some nearby witnesses appeared and rescued the family from death. In the meantime the rapists fled away and realizing the situation took shelter to local political leaders for compromise. Miss Shilpi chakravorty handed over us an appeal for protection and security of her family members in writing and also for necessary action assistance at the time of need.

Rape is not a compoundable offence as per law
On the next day ( 28th April,2003) the local U.P. members locally tried their best to compromise the incident of rape and the rapists along with the abettors/perpetrators vehemently negotiated with the higher authority and tried to vanish sign of alamats (sign of raping) but failed. It was a deliberate policy to delay the case so that the sign of raping is extinguished. Due to this delay the First Information Report (FIR) could not be lodged on 28th in the police station. It is the duty of the respective police officer to make an arrangement for medical examination of the victim and to get result of Chemical analysis. If any victim is produced after a considerable period of time before the Medical Board the very object of proving rape would be frustrated and the defense lawyer will get opportunity to disprove the rape. So the rapists tried to delay the case through negotiations and so many instances of such endeavor on the part of perpetrators are a common feature in a case like this. As a result the justice seekers hardly get justice due to lack of knowledge, foresightedness and technical difficulties.    

F.I.R. was filed on 29th April,03 in the Police station
The victim-girl, after physical illness, lodged the complain (FIR) in Shibalaya police station on 29th of April, 03 against four rapists namely 1) Aku Gazi son of Late Akali Gazi 2) Lutfar Pramanik son of Navin Pramanik 3) Mannan son of late Tala Sheikh and 4) Khadu son of Oazuddin of Aroa village, P.S. Shibalaya , Dist. Manikganj. Police took the case against the four rapists and apprehended two rapists namely 1) Aku Gazi and 2) Khadu @ Shahadad Hossain. Other two accused were absconding with the instigators.
We have examined the complain (FIR) Shibalaya P.S Case Number 25 dated 29.4.2003 under section 9(3) 30 Nari O Shisu Nirjatan Ain,2000 lodged by the victim wherein the cause of delay in filing the FIR in the police station was discussed. I asked the police officer present on the spot during investigation for medical examination of the victim, the police officer in reply told me that the victim was examined, but no medical report has yet been procured due to some obvious reasons best known to the Medical Board.
I talked with the mother – Renu Bala Chakravorty, father – Shymal Chakravorty of the victim girl who with a very frightened mood told me that the security and protection is the prime need of the day. I talked with the Supdt. of Police, Manikganj who assured me that every protection would be given to them in future.

Terrorists wanted to evict the family by way of rape and repression
We have also been given to understand that the main object of the torture and repression upon this Brahmin family by the terrorists was to compel them to leave the country and to occupy the vast landed properties of this family. Some of the independent witnesses are of the opinion that accused Aku Gazi and others were trying to harass this Brahmin family by way of repression and torture. But it is strange that this family did not repulse because of further repression, and avoided botheration as a simple and harmless person.
We came back from Akua, Manikganj on the same day and reached Dhaka at about 10-20 p.m.

Picture: Prof A. Taru and Mr. Mridul Talukder of HRCBM-Dhaka taking and examining the statements of the victim Ms. Chakrabarty.

Picture: Prof. Ashoke Taru and Mr. Mridul Talukder of HRCBM-Dhaka is discussing with the Police officer regarding the case.