Father takes life over girl's rape ordeal

Roving Correspondent, Natore

Humiliated and broken down by the rape of his 11-year-old daughter, a rickshaw-puller of Chalk Baiddyanath in Natore committed suicide, touching off a public outcry against the crime that came to light recently.
Abdul Hamid Molla, 60, took his own life drinking pesticide on September 3 on hearing the ordeal of his daughter who was raped by a local gangster.
Terrorist and Extortionist Resistance Action Committee (TERAC), a businessmen's organisation for curbing crime in the town, uncovered the crime through investigation.
The girl, a maid at the house of Lailee Begum for a few days, was led to a secluded room of the house allegedly by her employer on August 29 where she met her tormentor.
The TERAC says Polash, allegedly a local criminal, jumped on the poor girl as she entered the room. The girl tried to flee, but Lailee, armed with a sharp weapon, threatened her with death if she did not oblige him.
Polash, son of Nasir Uddin, raped the girl for days holding her hostage in the room with the connivance of Lailee, police said.
The girl was released by Polash on September 1 with the threat of death if she told her story to anybody.
But the girl broke her harrowing tale to her mother who later told her husband the incident.
On hearing the utter humiliation of his underage daughter on September 3, Hamid broke down in tears, went to a nearby bazaar, bought a bottle of pesticide and drank the poison to end his life.
TERAC President Abdus Salam and Secretary Saiful Alam Rogers at a press conference yesterday gave a 15-day ultimatum to the local administration for fulfilling a six-point demand that included treatment of the case as a sensational one and its trial by a speedy trial court.
The press conference, attended by the victim's mother and brother, also demanded exemplary punishment to the accused and security of the victim's family.
Noor Jahan, widow of Hamid, said a gang employed by Lailee and Nasir was threatening her and her daughter with death if they did not accept their offer.
"They wanted to give us Tk 40,000 for a settlement of the case. I've lost my husband and dignity of my daughter. I want nothing other than appropriate justice," an assertive Noor Jahan said.
The TERAC leaders alleged that their investigation found Lailee's links with an influential quarter that used her house as a base for trafficking in women and smuggling.
They also brought similar accusations against Nasir and his wives Kalmi and Kaitori.
Nazrul Islam, superintendent of police (SP) in Natore, said police were looking for some others after the arrest of key accused Polash and Lailee.
Shaken by the crime, a cross section of people formed a human chain at Chakbaidyanath in protest against the incident on Sunday and submitted a memorandum to local deputy commissioner and the SP, demanding immediate action to bring the accused to justice.