Rape of 5-year-old child: Tried to cover it up with money

Md. Anas Ibn Arfin

Locals are furious over the rape of a 5-year-old child in Chaliakandi village of Comilla's Muradnagar upazila.

Despite this heinous incident, there are allegations that some local influential people and public representatives are trying to cover up the crime in exchange of money.

According to local sources, on October 23 (Thursday), the north neighborhood of Chaliakandi villageRamiz Mia's son Babu brutally raped Kadam Ali's granddaughter and Mamun Mia's 5-year-old daughter of the same village. The child was then treated locally in critical condition.

But 5 days after the incident, on October 28 (Tuesday) a village arbitration was held under the leadership of local woman member Shamsunnahar (baby member) and some influential people. Even after heinous and inhumane crimes like rape, justice is doneInstead of the establishment, some influential people tried to cover up the crime for money.

In that arbitration, an attempt was made to cover up the incident by fixing a compensation of 1 lakh 50 thousand rupees as a solution to a heinous crime like rape.

When the news of this arbitration spread, anger was created in the area. A large number of men and women and young people erupted into protests and protested.

Locals say that if money solves the rape caseNo girl child will be safe in our society. They are not only covering up the crime, but encouraging the perpetrators.

Locals also said that this is not justice, it is a protection against injustice. These judges must also be held accountable. Paying off crimes like rape is not only an affront to humanity but a direct challenge to the law of the state. The maximum punishment for rape under the law is death, but some influential people doTrying to turn rape into a commodity without regard for the law.

It is to be noted that in 2020 Ramiz Mia, the father of this child rapist, was caught red-handed due to alienation. Then he was beaten by the locals and handed over to the chairman's office. That day was Wednesday, the chairman said that this Ramiz Mia will be tried on Friday. He was given the custody of his brother Ramzan Mia for those two days. But that rapistRamiz fled the area the next day. After one to one and a half years of that incident, he returned to the area. But no legal action was taken against Ramiz Mia when he entered the area.

The question of the local people, if he took this measure, would his son have the courage to rape a 5-year-old child today?

Women's rights activists say such brutality on a child's life is an attack on humanity. No exemplary punishment yetIf so, such crimes will increase in the society.

The officer-in-charge (OC) of Muradnagar police station informed Daily Nowroz that the victim's family filed a written complaint with the police station on Wednesday, October 29. Police are seriously investigating the matter and legal action will be taken soon.

The OC said no one's influence or position would be considered in crimes like rape. If found guilty, the maximum punishment will be guaranteed.

Residents unanimously demandRaised, this rape should be tried in court, not in arbitration. We want justice for the child.

The young society and conscious citizens of the village say that if such heinous crimes are settled in exchange of money, then the culture of crime will deepen in the society. The local residents demanded that the rapist Babu and his father Ramiz should be brought under the law and given maximum punishment. If necessary, local residents and people of all levels will cooperate with the administration.