Investigative report of HRCBM-Dhaka on the incident of rape of Minority victim Ms. Sathi Rishi of Karuatali, PS-Akhaura, District- Bhramanbnaria. Rape took place on 27-12-2006(investigation conducted on 06-01-2007 by HRCBM- Dhaka- Bangladesh)
View FIR and Investigation pictures in photo album at SathiRishi
I, Advocate Rabindra Ghosh of HRCBM-Dhaka-Bangladesh proceeded towards Akhaura as far report published in Daily Ajker Kagoj dated 05-01-07 to investigate the matter of rape of Hindu woman Ms. Sathi Rishi, 180 kilometers away from Dhaka by train and reached at Akhaura police station at about 7 pm on the same night.
Background Information
Ms. Sathi Rishi a destitute Minority women aged about 19 years wife of Sujan Rishi, daughter of Rupcharan Rishi (F) and Ms. Rati Bala Rishi (M) is a permanent citizen of Bangladesh living at Rishipara Karuatali, PS-Akhaura, and District- Bhramanbaria. She was married to one Sujan Rishi, son of Dhirendra Rishi of the same locality in the middle of April 2003. Her husband Sujan Rishi lives at Saudi Arabia for service two years back. The story runs like this: Ms. Sathi Rishi came outside of her father-in-law’s house at about 11pm on December 27 to attend the call of nature. Anis Miah (45), son of Joj Miah of village Azampur was waiting near the toilet and as soon as Ms. Sathi Rishi came near the toilet, Anis Miah caught hold of her mouth and took her to a jungle 500 yards away from the house and there Anis Miah raped her forcibly. The victim said that she respected Anis Miah like her father. She requested Anis not to spoil her chastity but Anis didn’t pay heed to her request. The victim also said that she escaped from the rapist at the dead of night somehow. From there she rushed to the railway station to commit suicide as she didn’t want to show her disgraced face to anybody. At that time, the guard of the railway station Sukkur Ali stopped her. Later, Sukkur Ali after hearing the story of Ms. Sathi Rishi took her to his house and there she stayed with Sukkur Ali’s daughter.
A case under section 9(1) of 2003 Nari O Sishu Nirjatan Ain (Amendment act) was filed at Akhaura police station on 30-12-2006 against the rapist Anis Miah. Police could not arrest the perpetrator till writing of this report.
Investigation
We, have reached Akhaura police station at about 7pm and found the officer-in-charge Mohammad Shajahan kabir. He gave us a copy of FIR filed by the victim on 30-12-2006 and he also explained that the perpetrator has yet not been arrested because the perpetrator is absconding and the I.O of the case Anjan tried his best to arrest the perpetrator but failed. I also requested the officer-in-charge to help accompanying at the place of occurrence and the victim and accordingly we have reached the spot and the victim at about 7:30 pm and found the victim and asked when and how she has been raped.
Statement of the victim
Ms. Sathi Rishi explained that she has been raped by Anis Miah, son of Joj Miah of Ramdhannagar on 27-12-2006 at about 11pm. The victim said “I came outside of my house at bout 11pm to attend the call of nature, at that time Anis Miah, son of Joj Miah was waiting near the toilet and as soon as I reached near the toilet, he caught hold of my mouth and took me to a nearby jungle and there Anis Miah tied up my mouth with his shawl and raped me forcibly without my consent and even after begging of my life and prestige”. She burst into tears and explained that after the incident of rape her father in law and mother in law abandoned her and she is now staying with her destitute parents. She also cried out that “I wanted to commit suicide as I didn’t want to show my disgraced face to anybody but I was prevented from committing suicide at the instance of Sukkur Ali who helped me to reach at my in-law’s house”. She also told us that the perpetrator is a powerful man in the society and he lives at Saudi Arabia and earns a lot of money. She also handed over an appeal signed by the victim requesting us to help financially and also legally for her survival.
Statement of the witnesses
I have examined more than thirty witnesses who were present at time of our investigation at the place of occurrence and at their house. (1) Soleman, (2) Josna Rani, (3) Rupam, (4) samir, (5) Tulsi, (6) Rupcharan, (7) Ratibala all of them are from Karuatali. They all admitted that the victim Ms. Sathi Rishi was raped on 27-012-2006. They also prayed for justice. We have also gone to the house of perpetrator and found the wife (1)Rokeya Begum(45), (2) Nargis Akter (26), the daughter of perpetrator and the son Md. Shakil(17) but they denied the allegation of rape but they could not say anything about the whereabouts of Anis Miah.
Statement of the OC
Mohammad Shajahan Kabir, the officer-in-charge of Akhaura police station assured that the victim will get proper justice and the perpetrator will be arrested as per law and he will instruct the I.O of the police station to submit charge sheet against the perpetrator very soon. He also said that the victim was also sent to Bhramanbaria hospital for examination but the result of the examination has not reached as yet. We also asked the OC why the victim was sent to medical hospital after three days of the occurrence, the OC in reply said that he was not informed about the rape nor the victim lodged any FIR before Akhaura police station in time. As soon as he got news he called the victim and helped lodging FIR in his police station
Recommendation and Opinion
It is an established fact that Ms. Sathi Rishi was the victim of violence and rape. She was mentally and physically tortured. She went to commit suicide as she didn’t want to show her disgraceful ordeal to the society. But it is also painful that she was also driven out from the house her father-in-law after the occurrence. No local influential persons came forward for the protection of the rights of the victim. If it is so where the victim will go? The police should have arrested the perpetrator soon after the occurrence but it is unfortunate that no tangible steps had been taken by police for apprehending the perpetrator. The perpetrator should be arrested and punished as per law and the protection of rights of the raped woman should be guaranteed. The appeal submitted by the victim should be taken into consideration by government and international community for her legal help and rehabilitation.
We observed discriminatory treatment upon this destitute minority victim in not arresting the perpetrator till writing of this report. The Investigation Officer on duty should be cautious and careful about such heinous crimes against humanity.
The state failed to provide or to ensure proper justice for the destitute minority victim and the material facts and thus committed breach of national laws and also violated the UN declaration on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and also violated other international protocols ratified by the Government of Bangladesh.
(a) The rights of Minorities should be protected,
(b) The perpetrators of crime should be brought to book in accordance with the provision
of law, and
(c) The victim of rape should be adequately compensated.
(d) Sexual harassment upon the minority women should be stopped.
(e) Harassment of the victim by the father and mother in law should be stopped.
We came back from Akhaura on 07-01-2007 in the morning.
Prepared and submitted by:
(Adv.Rabindra Ghosh)
President-HRCBM-Dhaka-Bangladesh.