Schoolgirl 'gang-raped' in Faridpur: One more arrested, MP assures maximum punishment
The suspect, identified as Roni Bepari, 18, was arrested during a police drive around 12:30pm today (1 August).
Police have arrested one more suspect in connection with the abduction and gang rape of an eighth-grader in Faridpur's Sadarpur upazila, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to three.
The suspect, identified as Roni Bepari, 18, was arrested during a police drive around 12:30pm today (1 August).
Earlier, locals had detained two primary suspects – Helal Mridha, 20, and Rais Sikdar, 16 –along with a motorcycle and handed them over to Sadarpur police after beating them.
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Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Faridpur-4 (Sadarpur, Bhanga, and Charbhadrasan) Shphidul Islam Babul visited the victim's family at their home around 2:30pm today to offer condolences and assure them of justice.
"Such a heinous and barbaric crime cannot be tolerated under any circumstances," the MP said. "No matter who the perpetrator is, they will receive zero leniency. Law enforcement agencies have been directed to take the strictest action so the family gets justice as quickly as possible. We will ensure exemplary and maximum punishment for these criminals."
Later at 3:00pm, Additional Superintendent of Police (Admin and Finance) Fatema Islam visited the scene and spoke with the victim's family, reassuring them of a fair investigation and prompt arrests of all remaining suspects.
The victim is currently undergoing treatment at Faridpur Medical College Hospital.
According to the victim's family and the case statement, the incident occurred aearly hours of yesterday in a village under Bhasanchar union. A group of 10 to 15 armed men surrounded the house and demanded the door be opened.
The victim was at home with her younger brother and sister, as her mother and uncle were at a hospital in Faridpur for her grandmother's eye treatment.
When those inside refused to open the door, the assailants allegedly broke a window, grabbed the eighth-grader by her hair, and forcibly dragged her out of the house. Relatives and neighbours who attempted to intervene were threatened with violence.
The girl was taken on a motorcycle to a pond embankment in a neighbouring village, where three men allegedly gang-raped her in turn. At around 3am, the perpetrators left her severely ill in her home's courtyard and attempted to flee.
Local residents gathered, chased the suspects, and detained Helal and Rais before handing them over to the police.
Yesterday, the victim's mother filed a case with Sadarpur Police Station naming seven individuals alongside 6–7 unnamed suspects.
