( Investigation conducted by HRCBM-Dhaka on 20th of May,2006)
I, Adv.Rabindra Ghosh along with Prof. Asoke Toru Saha of HRCBM rushed to the spot at Nandirhat under Hathazari police station, District -Chittagong on receipt of information over telephone that one minority Hindu girl was kidnapped on 16th of May,2006 from her house at Nandirhat. We started for Chittagong on the 19th of May, 2006 by Bus 260 kilometers from Dhaka and reached the spot at afternoon on 20th May, 06
Background Information:
Ms. Champa Rani Bhattacharjee daughter of Pranab Bhattacharjee (f) and Mrs. Neeli Bhattacharjee (m) of Ghoshpara – Nadirhat is a minor girl aged about 15 years. She stopped her education due to family poverty and she read up to Class V at her primary level. Ms. Champa was sleeping on Tuesday last (16.05.06) at dead of night one Muslim boy Russel - aged about 22 years along with some intruders entered into the house of the victim and kidnapped Ms.Champa Rani with a view to convert her to Islam. She was taken to unknown place and kept confined for forceful conversion. The guardian of the victim could not find her out on the next day in spite of much endeavor, but they have been prevented from going to lodge any complain in the police station or any other law enforcing agency except informing us over telephone at Dhaka.
Russel is said to have been an employee in the Poultry farm of Lalu Meah of the neighboring locality. Lalu Meah conspired to kidnap the victim girl for forceful conversion.
Pranab Bhattacharjee, the father of the victim was away from the spot and as such we failed to note down his statement. Both the father and the mother of the victim were helpless.Mother of the victim who was so frightened to lodge any FIR in the Police station due to further atrocity. She told us that she has been threatened by some local Muslims not to lodge any FIR in the police station.
They were so timid that they even could not collect themselves to inform the police of the mishap. Due to intimidation and coercion, the guardian of the victim did not proceed since the date of kidnapping up to 20th of May 2006 except informing us over telephone regarding this incident.
Investigation :
Instantly we made decision to make F.I.R. and convinced the mother to accompany us at Hathazari police station. We somehow managed to make the F.I.R. On our arrival, we found the Officer-in-Charge of Hathazari P.S. was absent, the second officer S.A. Arifur Rahaman was also absent. However, Sub-Inspector of Police Arab Ali Chowdhury talked to us of their whole-hearted co-operation. We met Ms.Neli Bhattacharjee.
Ms. Neeli Bhattacharjee – mother of the victim lodged F.I.R. at Hathazari Police station. Police initially felt reluctant to take any case of Ms. Neeli, subsequently on our pressure he took case and Hathazari P.S. case No. 17 dated 10.05.2006 under Nari-O-Shishu Nirjatan Ain, 2000 against the accused Russel.
Ms. Champa Rani rescued and handed her over for safe custody to legal guardian.
Police arrested both Russel and the victim-girl from Chittagong town identified by Lalu Meah on 22nd of May 2006. Police initially for interrogation detained Lalu Meah and as a result both the kidnapper and victim had been traced out from a rented house. Both of them have been sent to Magistrate's court-Chittagong for taking legal action.
The Magistrate after hearing the lawyer of HRCBM and victim girl let her to go with her legal guardian and sent the kidnapper-Russel in jail-custody for trial by his order dated 24th of May, 06.
Findings :
Kidnapping from lawful guardianship: - Whoever takes or entices any minor under fourteen years of age if a male, or under sixteen years of age of a female, or any person of unsound mind, out of the keeping of the lawful guardian of such minor or person of such minor or person of unsound mind, without the consent of such guardian, is said to kidnap such minor or persons from lawful guardianship as per Section 161 of Bangladesh Penal Code. It is clear from the above circumstances Lalu Meah – owner of Poultry firm is involved in kidnapping the victim girl as abettor. But Police released Lalu Meah on the ground that his name is not mentioned in the F.I.R. though he conspired to kidnap the victim girl.
Due to our quick initiative the victim- girl was traced and rescued and there was a chance of forceful conversion or trafficking of minor victim girl, if proper and timely action was not taken. We thanked Hathazari Police for quick recovery of the victim and kidnapper. The guardian of the victim appreciated HRCBM activists for our humanitarian services to mankind.
We came back from Chittagong to Dhaka on the next day on 21st of May,2006.
Prepared and submitted by:
Rabindra Ghosh
President,HRCBM-Dhaka, Bangladesh