7 held for gang rape, robbery in Khagrachhari
Cash, gold ornaments, mobile sets, an auto-rickshaw seized
Police members of Khagrachhari Police Station have arrested seven people on charges of robbery and gang rape at a residence at Balpeiya Adam in Khagrachhari district on Thursday night.
Police arrested them after conducting drives in different areas, said Mohammad Abdul Aziz, police superintendent of Khagrachari, at a press conference on Sunday at his office.
The arrestees are: Nurul Amin (40) of Taichala Para of Ramgarh Upazila of the district; Mohammad Antar (20) of Daroga Para; Belal Hossain (23) of Khagrachhari municipal area CumillaTilla; Abdul Halim (28) of Ganjpara; Iqbal Hossain (21) of Boro Pilak area of Guimara Upazila, Md Shahin Mia (19) of Poschim Boro Pilak area; and Abdur Rashid, 38, of Dakshin Muslim Para in Matiranga Upazila.
During the raids the police also seized cash, gold ornaments, mobile sets, a numberless auto-rickshaw used during the robbery, and a shovel used to break down the door.
Mohammad Abdul Aziz described the details of the robbery and rape, and the operations to arrest the accused.
During the press conference, Abdul Aziz said that the arrestees were involved in the rape and robbery.
They also looted cash and gold ornaments from the house. After the robbery and rape, they left the house and went to Matiranga, said the police official.
"There are several cases against each of the arrested people. Many of them are also accused in rape cases. All the robbers had met each other in jail, where they formed a robbery gang. After being released from jail, they got involved in this crime again," added Abdul Aziz, police superintendent of Khagrachhari.
He went on to say, "A total of nine people participated in the pre-planned robbery. They took all the necessary information before committing the crimes. They broke down the door with a shovel, entered the house, and tied up the three people in the house. Then they raped the mentally disabled girl and continued looting the house."
The police superintendent said that two types of crime were committed – one was robbery and the other was rape, so the case is important.
"We have all the necessary information. Those who committed the crimes will be punished," he said.
On the night of September 24, a group of robbers entered a house at Balpeiya Adam in Khagrachhari town, tied up everyone in the place, raped a mentally challenged female, and robbed the house.
Police have arrested seven of the nine people who were directly involved in the incident. The operation to arrest the remaining two is underway, said police.