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Minority girl gang raped at Periojpur: An Investigative Report
Photo: HRCBM
Investigation conducted by: HRCBM-Dhaka.
Report submitted by: Adv. Rabindra Ghosh, HRCBM-Dhaka.
Date of Investigation: on 9th of June,04.
The Report
I, Rabindra Ghosh ,Ms. Biva Rani Biswas of HRCBM-Dhaka and Debashish Kumar Litu, a local reporter of District representative of the daily “ Ajker Kagoj” visited the place of occurrence at Sikdar Mallick of Perojpur Sadar P.S. District – Perojpur on 9th of June, 04 and investigated the incident of gang rape of minority Hindu girl Ms. Gita Rani Bepari daughter of Gouranga Bepari. We reached Perojpur town 230 kilometers from Dhaka by bus and reached the spot at Nazirpur Bali Babla village 22 kilometers from Perojpur town.
Background Information
As soon as we got information published in different news papers of Bangladesh
that a Hindu girl namely Ms. Gita Rani Bepari (15}daughter of Gouranga Barai and
Ms.Kanan Bala Bepari. She was the student of Class IX Nagar Bari High School,
Perojpur. On 20th of May, 2004 at about 8 a.m. was going to Perojpur town for
her treatment with her younger brother – some criminals caught hold of Ms. Gita
and abducted her. She was than brutally raped en masse until rescued by police
later on. But the racially motivated Medical Board maliciously given negative
report. Ms. Gita Rani should be given legal shelter immediately.
First of all, we went to Perojpur Sadar P.S. to know the incident of above gang rape of Ms. Gita Rani Bepari. Our Women Wing Personnel Ms. Biva Rani discussed with the Officer-in-Charge, Sayed Rabiul Islam for the safety of the members of victim family at Bali Babla, Nazirpur PS . The O.C. assured us for protection of this Minority Hindu family and assured us that the culprits will be arrested soon.
Spot investigation
We along with a Sub-Inspector of Police, Matiur Rahaman who is also an
investigating officer of the case went to the spot – Sikder Mallik by micro-bus
where the victim girl was gang raped , 10/12 kilometers away from Perojpur
police station . We asked the following persons how Ms. Gita Rani was gang
raped. All the witnesses disclosed that Ms. Gita was caught and raped by the
accused one after another namely 1) Monir son of Habibur Rahaman 2) Zahid son of
Hanif Sheikh 3) Munna son of Delwar Hossain 4) Mitu son of Habibur Rahaman 5)
Zakir son of Moktader Sikdar 6) Habibur Rahaman son of late Sakawat Hossain 7)
Pervez son of Soharab Hossain. All of Sikder Mallik, PS and Dist. Perojpur. A
case number 9 dated 20th of May, 2004 has been started against the accused under
section 9(3)/30 of Nari O Shishu Nirtajan Ain read with section 379 of the
Bangladesh Penal code. And the case is now under investigation: The following
witnesses present on the date of investigation at the place of occurrence
deposed that the incident of rape is genuine and the culprits should be brought
to book:
1.Ms,Joytun Bibi wife of Belayet
2.Alamgir son of Azmeer Sheikh
3.Ms.Razia wife of Zamal Sheikh
4.Afzal Mridha son of late Motahar Ali Mridha
5.Zahangir Hossain son of Amjad Ali Sikder
6.Hyder Ali son of late Sattar Ali
7.Saidul Sikder son of late Shamsu Sikder {Rickshaw puller}
8.Ms.Farzana Begum wife of Abdul Hye
9.Ms.Fazila Begum wife of Abu Sheikh
10.Farhad Howlader son of Sahar Ali
11.Shahid son of Abdul Hoque Sheikh, Member Ward No.1 Durgapur -3
The Doctor of Medical Board was biased and submitted a false report as the
mother of accused is the Staff Nurse of the said Perojpur Sadar Hospital
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Adv. Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM-Dhaka
interviewing the medical board including a woman Physician for the alleged false
report. The interview was taken in front of police and video recorded the
statements of the medical board.
We also went to Perojpur Sadar Hospital to know why the medical report submitted
by the Medical Board was not in accordance with the provision of law. The
doctors produced the victim girl on the date of rape before Perojpur Sadar
Hospital for medical examination. But it is curious to note that as Ms. Rowsan
Ara Habib- mother of accused Monir is the Staff Nurse working at Perojpur Sadar
Hospital who influenced the Medical Board to give negative report in favor of
the accused persons involved in the rape case. We also examined the Doctors
namely Ms. Khaleda Parveen, Dr. Amal Chandra Roy and Dr. Sunil Krishna Baul
their report but they hesitated to give up authenticated and satisfactory reply.
We have videotaped all their oral statements, the contradictory statements of
the doctors amply proved that the report of Medical Board is far from truth. The
Sub-Inspector of Police is also of the opinion that the medical report is not at
all genuine and the police produced the victim girl in the hospital in a very
precarious condition and Ms. Gita Rani was not in a position to move due to gang
rape. But the report given by the doctors are far from satisfactory.
We also went to the house of the victim. We found the victim girl and her mother
Ms.Kanan Bala Bepari, sisters- Ms.Rina Bepari {22} Ms. Rita Bepari {18}and
brothers – Goutam chandra Bepari{10} Uttam Chandra Bepari{7} .
Picture (Courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Ms. Biva of HRCBM-Dhaka video recording the
statements of the victim Ms. Gita Rani Bepari (15) while police officer
accompanied the HRCBM team is registering the case.
Picture (HRCBM-Dhaka): The victim Ms. Gita Rani Bepari is shown with two of
her sisters who have also sought protection. The two other sisters of the
victims are afraid that criminal may attack them too.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): HRCBM-Dhaka representative Advocate Rabindra
Ghosh is video recording the statements of the victim's family members.
Investigating Police officer was present to listen the statements.
We talked with them and their statements have been videotaped. The victim girl
Ms. Gita was crying while she was asked to describe the situation of rape by the
accused on date of occurrence. She narrated to us that she was forcefully taken
to the house of accused Monir and some other accused came and started to raped
her en masse. We also visited the place of occurrence where Ms.Gita was raped
and noted the on-spot evidences. The local witnesses deposed to us that Ms Gita
being the girl of Hindu destitute was subjected to torture :
1. Bimal Krishna Adkhikary son of Rajendra Nath Adkihikary
2. Sontosh Kumar Mistry son of Anadi Ranjan Mistry
Mrs. Kanal bala Bepari is a destitute mother who is crying for justice as her
daughter has been gang-raped by some criminals of the area. She was describing
most pathetic way that they should be protected and legal help should be given
to them. She also gave us written statements relating to this incident in Bangla
language which speaks that she need protection and legal shelter by any Human
Rights Organization. We as human right activists assured them full assistance in
this regard.
We also met with Alhaj Abdul Al-Azad, Superintendent of Police, Perojpur and
requested him for full co-operation and also requested him to arrest the accused
responsible for this heinous offence. Mr. A-Azad also assured us for
co-operation and he will try to arrest those criminals very shortly.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Ms. Biva explains to the victim about the
legal protection of HRCBM and requested her consent which Ms. Gita (victim) has
signed authorizing HRCBM to pursue legal action.
Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): An appeal from Victim Ms. Gita Rani Bepari.
Stating her fathers name and address, Ms. Gita has wrote in this appeal about
the incident. In the appeal, addressing the "international community and rights
activists" Gita states that she was on her way to doctor at Panch para bazar of
Sikder Mallik union along with her brother in the morning around 8:00 AM dated
05/20/04 . While they reached at the marketplace, the local goons namely Manir
and Munna abducted both Gita and her brother in broad day light and forcefully
took them to the house of Manir. Gita asserts as they tried to escape or cry,
the goons threatens to kill them. There the goons with two others namely Jahid
and Mitu brutally raped her. There she became seek. Latter, Gita's mother
hearing the attack on her daughter took police to the spot and rescued the Gita.
In the appeal, Ms. Gita further states on how the doctors have produced negative
report against her and denying the signs of rape.
Further being traumatized by the false report of the doctors, Gita states how
she finds ray of hope when HRCBM knocked at her door steps and now she is
appealing before the civilized world to help her procure justice.
Findings
The offence committed by the accused persons is most heinous. The Medical Board
is quite biased as the female doctor Khaleda Parveen influenced other two Hindu
doctors to give negative report of rape. The police produced the victim girl in
the Hospital in time, accused admitted the rape, police also admitted the rape,
and victim also admitted the rape. But it is astonishing to note that the
medical report submitted by the Medical Board of Perojpur district is far from
satisfactory. And it has been established as the mother of accused is the Senior
Staff Nurse of Perojpur and said senior staff nurse obtained a false report from
the board. This illegal practice must be stopped. The Minorities should be
protected. The rights of the children and women should be guaranteed and the
culprits responsible for such heinous offence should be brought to book in
accordance with the law.
We came back from Perojpur on the next day on 10th of June, 2004 at Dhaka.
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