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 Minority girl brutally gang raped at Rupganj, Bangladesh

An Investigative Report of Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities HRCBM-Dhaka
Place of occurance: Agla, Rupganj Police station, Dist. Narayanganj.
Investigation conducted on 26th of May, 2004

Report submitted by HRCBM-Dhaka, Bangladesh.

I, Adv. Rabindra Ghosh along with Ms.Biva Rani Biswas of HRCBM-Dhaka visited the spot and Rupganj police station on 26th of May, 04 on receipt of information that one minority girl namely Ms.Shilpi Rani Shil  (19) daughter of Mon Mohan Shil  of village Agla , Rupganj P.S. was gang raped and this news has been published in different news papers particularly in the daily “Sangbad” and “Janakantha” dated 22dn May, 2004.

Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Filled FIR (First Information Report) depicts that the case was registered under "Women and Children protection act of 2000"

Background Information :
Ms. Shilpi Rani Shil (19) daughter of Mono Mohan Shil of village Agla, Rupganj PS, Dist. Narayanganj is a poor law-abiding youngest girl of Shil family and is the permanent citizen of Bangladesh. They are three sisters and four brothers. Her father Mono Mohan is a cultivator, her mother is a very old women and suffering from various diseases and she can not speak.  While Ms. Shilpi Rani came out from her house due to natural call  on 18th May, 04 at about 8-30 p.m. accused namely : 1) Saru Chandra Shil son of Fanindra Ch.Shil 2) Sahid son of late Lardi and 3) Julhash son of Faju Meah – all of village Agla, Rupganj P.S. Dist. Narayanganj forcefully kidnap Ms. Shilpi and took her away in a nearby jungle and kept tied her mouth by clothes and started to rape her one after another for about 5 hours. Due to this brutality, Ms.Shilpi became senseless. Her  blood socked unconscious body was latter found and transported by villagers to her house where she regain consciousness after four hours. As soon as she came into senses after four hours she has been carried to the nearby physician for treatment. In the meantime the rapists fled away. Ms. Shilpi has recognized the rapists and filed a case at Rupganj P.S. accusing for alleged brutality. The case No.  24 dated 20/05/04 registered in Rupganj police station against the rapists under section 9(1)30 of Nari-O-Shishu Nirjatan Ain-2000. The F.IR. was written by the police officer and was signed by the victim – Shilpi.Rani.


Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): From Left HRCM women rights worker Ms. Biva Biswas is taking video statement of the victim. Middle, Advocate Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM-Dhaka is discussing the case with Mr. Md. Quamrul Islam, Office in charge of the Rupganj police station. Right, HRCBM representatives talking with the sub inspector of police who is responsible for the case.

Statement of Officer-in-Charge of Rupganj P.S.

 First of all we went to Rupganj Police station and collected the copy of F.I.R. filed by the victim Ms.Shilpi Rani Shil  from the local police station and we have found Mr.Quamrul Islam, O.C of Rupganj P.S. He admitted the incident of rape and told us that one of  the accused is a minority and he is trying to apprehend the accused for the offence. He also told us that the Investigating officer – Md.Tariqul Islam would help us in investigating the rape case. Md. Tariqul Islam told us that Medical officer examined the victim, but the medical report has not yet reached to them.  We also found local reporter of Janakantha – SK.Abdul Alim  in the police station , he also admitted the fact  of rape .We wanted to go to the spot Agla village where Ms. Shilpi was raped 15 kilometers from Rupganj police station . We got co-operation from the local police station. But the Police could not arrest the criminals till writing of this report.

 Spot Investigation with statements of witnesses

We reached Agla at about 4 p.m. and found the victim Ms.Shilpi Rani and her old mother, relatives and various other witnesses. The witnesses listed herein under deposed in presence of  S.I. Md. Tariqul Islam ,Rupganj PS that Ms. Shilpi was gang raped by the accused namely 1) Saru chandra Shil, 2) Sahid son of late Lardi and 3} Julhash son of Faju Meah on 18th of May, 04 at about 8-30 p.m. in a jungle and all of following witnesses demand deterrent punishment of the accused responsible for such heinous offense :

Picture (Courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): From Left, Ms. Biva Biswas of HRCBM's women rights group talking with one of the neighbor about Ms. Shipi's ordeal. Right, Family member and the victim describing the ordeal to Ms. Biswas while the statements are being video recorded.

1.        Niranjan Sarkar – 35 son of Ananta Sarkar

2.        Akhil Biswas –35 son of late Sontosh Biswas

3.        Nazrul –30 son of Matiur

4.        Manjur –66 son of Karim

5.        Sanaullah –30 son of Helaluddin

6.        Tapashi Rani Shil –28 wife of Shankar Chandra Shil

7.        Suchitra Rani Shil –32 wife of Jahar Lal Shil

8.        Badal Chandra Shil – 20

9.        Kalimuddin –40 son of Majum Ali

10.     Shariful Islam –30 son of Moksed Ali

11.     Kazal Meah –son of Aktar Hossain

12.     Lal Mohan Shil –son of late Banabashi Shil

13.     Abdul Kader

14.     Narayan Shil –60

 

Statement of the victim : Shilpi Rani

Ms. Biva Rani of HRCBM-Dhaka asked most clandestinely the victim Ms. Shilpi in a room of the cottage to described her optional statements. Ms. Biva also discussed with Ms. Shilpi's any other concerns including her health condition. In her conversation she has accused Saru chandra Shil, Sahid and Julhash. HRCBM's women rights representative Ms. Biva Biswas described a cutting mark on her neck and multiple injuries on the body that could be due to scuffle with the miscreants.  Ms.Shilpi also told us that some village touts are trying to compromise the rape case but failed and as a result she could not lodge the FIR in time. All her optional statements have been video taped and the pictures taken by our activists.
Ms. Shilpi Rani has also gave us a written appeal for necessary assistance in future.

Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): In the typed statement that is duly signed by the victim asserts that HRCBM visited her house endowed humanitarian assistance as applicable. Other members of the family has also signed the letter seeking justice.

 We also talked with the mother of victim Shilpi Rani who can not speak and staying in a dilapidated small room, but her eyes shows that she is the most destitute women and crying for justice. She wanted to tell us that the rapists responsible should be brought to book according to the law of the land. We paid her a little amount of taka 500/- for her medical treatment. She also wanted our full co-operation for further humanitarian assistance at the time of need in the court of law.  

Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): Advocate Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM-Dhaka providing taka 500 to the victim's mother for Ms. Shilpi's medical treatment. Right, Family member and Shilpi describing the ordeal

We along with the S.I. of Police  – Md.Tariqul Islam also went to the house of accused Saru Chandra and we found his mother- worried about his son Saru Chandra who is absconding. She also described us that the police only came to her house to apprehend her son, but the police did not go to the house of other two accused. She also narrated to us that her son Saru is not responsible for the alleged offence; other two accused Sahid and Julhash are mostly responsible for the offence of rape. But on the other hand she also told us that if her son Saru is found responsible for the offence in the court of law she is bound to comply the order of the court.


Picture (courtesy HRCBM-Dhaka): HRCBM representative talking with the mother of the accused Saru Chandra.

 Findings

During our on the spot investigation, we observed that the destitute family need immediate legal help only with a view to get proper justice, if there is any chance of any intimidation and threat to withdraw the case the destitute family will incur great loss and injury which can not be compensated by money.
We came back from village Agla , Rupganj on the same day and reached Dhaka at about 12 at night.