Farmer family held hostage, fined lakhs for allegedly molesting schoolgirl in Tanore
Sohanul Haque Parvez, Tanore (Rajshahi
A farmer's family was held hostage on charges of molestation of a schoolgirl in Tanor upazila of Rajshahi. Fined 100,000 taka in arbitration. Rape or attempted rape is not a negotiable crime.
The judge of the law court. Various rumors are going on among the locals. The locals have demanded further investigation into the incident and the arrest of the president of the arbitration meeting, Abul Basar. It was spread in the area that Monirul Islam Monir (55), a day laborer from Prakashnagar Guchcha village of the upazila, tried to rape a schoolgirl from the same village. The people of the local former councilor Abul Basar spread such propaganda and sought justice from them.
Meanwhile, without verifying the truth of the incident, they organized an arbitration meeting at the Guchchagram football field. The president of the arbitration meeting, Abul Basar, Belal Uddin, Rashel and Rokon took the family members of the day laborer Monirul Islam Monir hostage, extracted confessions and fined them 3 lakh 10 thousand taka. Since the accused did not have cash, Monir's signature on a blank check stamp was given time until August 20. At that time, the president announced that if he failed to pay the money within that time, the money would be recovered by selling his cattle and buffaloes. Last Sunday (August 23), Abul Basar forgave Tk 20,000 and recovered Tk 290,000. This money is deposited with Rokon and has not been given to the victim's family. Monirul Islam Monir's son Nazmul said that they are poor and helpless, so they were held hostage and arbitration was done in the name of fines. Several local people who did not want to be named said that the price of the molestation was Tk 310,000, Tk 20,000 as forgiveness, Tk 290,000 as income, and Tk 1.5 lakh as board expenses were lost. When asked about this, the president of the arbitration meeting denied the allegations.
OC of Tanor Police Station OC Mahmudul Hasan told the media that the incident had happened before. No complaint was received in this regard at the police station. However, if anyone wants legal assistance, legal action will be taken against the accused subject to investigation.
