Outrage as gang rape victim ‘forced to MARRY one of her rapists by cops so they didn’t have to prosecute the suspects’
COPS forced a gang rape victim to marry one of her attackers so they didn't have to prosecute them, reports say.
Two officers have since been suspended following outrage in Bangladesh after the mother of three wed the alleged rapist in a police station.
The 25-year-old woman, who had recently rented a flat with her brother in the Pabna district, told police that her landlord and up to five other men broke into the home when her brother did not return from work.
She gave evidence - including a medical examination at Pabna General Hospital - that the men gang raped her throughout the night in late August.
FORCED TO MARRY RAPIST
Less than a week later, officers at the police station where the woman went to file a complaint forced her to sign documents divorcing her husband and marrying the main rape suspect.
Officer Obaidul Huq said the marriage was executed with the consent of both parties.
However, police officials later said the marriage appeared to be part of an effort to prevent the suspects from being prosecuted.
Huq was withdrawn from his position and Sub-Inspector Ekramul Haque was temporarily suspended on Thursday for their alleged involvement in the “forced marriage”.
We have suspended sub-inspector Ekramul Haq for helping the marriage between the victim and one of her suspected rapists ... [and have] withdrawn the officer-in-charge from his duty after he allowed the marriage to take place in the police station compound.
Pabna Police Superintendent Sheikh Rafiqul Islam
Mohammad ibne Mizan, deputy police chief of Pabna, said: “We have suspended sub-inspector Ekramul Haq for helping the marriage between the victim and one of her suspected rapists, who is also the chief accused.
“We have also withdrawn the officer-in-charge of Pabna Sadar police station from his duty after he allowed the marriage to take place in the police station compound.”
SUSPECTS HELD
Four people linked to the assault – including three of the suspected rapists – have been arrested.
The woman's landlord and neighbour, Rasel Ahmed, reportedly confessed to the crime before a local court in Pabna on Wednesday.
Another of the accused is reportedly a low-level official of the ruling Awami League party.
Gang rapes have increased in the country in recent years, accoriding to women's rights groups.
Many blame the country’s weak criminal justice system, which sees very few convictions in rape cases.
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