Villagers besiege Kumarkhali Police Station over arrests in woman torture case

Over 100 villagers besieged Kumarkhali Police Station in Kushtia for nearly an hour today (11 June), attempting to snatch three women from police custody following their arrest in connection with the torture of another woman accused of theft, police said.

As news of the arrests spread, an angry mob gathered outside the police station around 11:00am and laid siege in protest, demanding the release of the detainees.

Confirming the incident to The Business Standard, Officer-in-charge of Kumarkhali Police Station Md Solaiman Sheikh said, "A scuffle broke out between police and locals, with villagers blocking police vehicles and resisting the transfer of the accused to court.

"Despite obstruction from the villagers, we successfully transferred the arrestees to court under tight security. The situation is now under control."

According to locals, on 9 June, the victim, a woman from the Shilaidaha Union's Mirzapur village, was allegedly tied to a guava tree, beaten, and had her head shaved on suspicion of stealing beef from a neighbour's refrigerator and Tk41,000 cash.

Later that evening, villagers reportedly vandalised her home, looted valuables, and dragged her back to the alleged victim's residence where the abuse continued.

A local arbitration meeting later that night, chaired by a union parishad member, ordered her release in exchange for two cows, a goat, and some gold jewellery.

Unwilling to accept the extrajudicial punishment, the victim filed a case with Kumarkhali Police Station last night, naming seven individuals. In response, police arrested three female suspects from the same village this morning.

The arrested women have been identified as Mukti Khatun (wife of Ripon), Parvin Khatun (wife of Momin), and Lipi Khatun (wife of Bakkor), all residents of Mirzapur village.

Locals claimed the woman was caught red-handed while stealing and that the community took action only after repeated thefts.

"She was found with stolen beef and cash. Instead of taking action against the thief, police arrested my wife," said Ripon, one of the accused women's husbands.

In contrast, the complainant alleged that the theft accusation was fabricated and used as a pretext for personal vendetta. "They plotted against me and tortured me inhumanely. Now they're trying to pressure me to withdraw the case," she told TBS.

Several videos of the incident have since circulated on social media, showing locals cheering as the woman was humiliated.

Sub-Inspector Abdul Rashid, the investigation officer, stated that the accused faces charges including physical assault, forced head shaving, vandalism, and looting. "Police are continuing their investigation into the case, and further arrests may follow."