7 jailed for gang rape in Kushtia

A Kushtia court on Thursday sentenced 7 men to life in prison and another to 14 years in jail for the gang-rape of a college girl in Kumarkhali upazila of the district in 2011.

The life-terms were handed to Arif Sheikh, Mintu Sheikh, Saheb Ali alias Shihab, Jamir Sheikh, Moslem Sheikh, Moktar Hossain Sheikh, Sohel Uddin Sheikh, residents of Uttarpar Saota village under Kumarkhali upazila.

The 14-year sentence was awarded to Arif of Jadubaira.

Judge Munshi Md Mashiur Rahman of Women and Children Repression Tribunal handed down the verdict in presence of the convicts.

According to the prosecution, a student of Kushtia Government Women's College hailing from Nalsity Upazila in Jhalakathi district, who used to live in Kushtia town, got into a relationship with fruit trader Arif Sheikh of Dabir Mollar Gate area in the district town.

On 30 September 2011, Arif took the girl to his friend Mostak's house in Uttarpar Saota village under Kumarkhali upazila promising marriage.

Arif later went out of the house on the pretext of fetching some snacks, letting his friend Mostak's attempt to seduce her.

Gravely insulted, the victim girl left the house around 10:00pm and sought shelter in the neighbourhood, but she was turned away.

Arif and at least seven then took her to a nearby banana grove in the area and violated her by turn, before fleeing the scene. 

Later, victim's sister-in-law Jhumur Khatun filed a case with Kumarkhali police station accusing nine people of the crime. One of them was acquitted.

Source: unb