According to local and complainant sources, around 10 am on October 26, a four-year-old child in Sardarkandi village of Farajikandi Union under Matlab Uttar Upazila was allegedly raped by her 65-year-old neighbor Delwar Sikdar alias Delu Sikdar.
The child's mother alleged that on the morning of the incident, her father Almach took the child to the accused's house. There the child was watching cartoons on the accused's mobile phone. At one stage, when Almach left the child there and went away, the accused sexually abused the child. At that time, when the child screamed, he covered her mouth, the mother also alleged.
When the incident became known, anger and tension spread in the area. Later, police went to the spot and brought the situation under control and took the accused Delwar Sikdar into police custody. In this incident, the child's father filed a rape case as complainant. Later, in consequence of the case, the accused was sent to court. Immediately after this incident, allegations of attack and looting at the dwelling house came to the fore.
According to the complaint filed in court, an attack took place between 7 pm and 9 pm on November 1 at the dwelling house of Rehena Begum in Sardarkandi village adjacent to Bheduria Bazar. It has been alleged that due to a pre-existing dispute over the access path to the house, several people formed a group and entered the house with rods and GI pipes.
The complaint further states that at that time, Rehena Begum and family members were beaten, threatened with death, and she was sexually harassed. At one stage, breaking the lock of the steel wardrobe in the room, about 7 bhori of gold ornaments worth approximately Tk 14 lakh and Tk 4 lakh in cash were looted. Besides, the complainant claims that furniture, walls, main gate, and various structures of the dwelling house were vandalized, causing damage of Tk 30 to 35 lakh. The victim claims that photos and video footage of the incident have been submitted to the court. Fourteen people have been named in the complaint.
Meanwhile, concern prevails in the area over the allegation of sexual abuse of a four-year-old child and the subsequent attack and looting. Locals have demanded a proper investigation into the child abuse allegation, necessary medical treatment for the child, and exemplary punishment for the accused. At the same time, they have demanded that the allegation of attack, vandalism, and looting at the dwelling house also be investigated impartially to uncover the actual facts and bring those involved under the law.
In this regard, Officer-in-Charge (OC) Manas Barua of Matlab Uttar Police Station said that police are investigating with importance the allegation of child abuse and the allegation of attack and looting at the dwelling house. After investigation, the actual facts of the incident will be known. If the allegations are found true in the investigation, legal action will be taken against those involved.
