In a deeply distressing incident, three drivers have been arrested in Sylhet’s Kanaighat upazila on charges of abducting and gang-raping an 18-year-old mentally disabled girl. The arrests were made late Thursday night (10 July 2025) by Kanaighat police, and the accused were sent to jail following their appearance in court on Friday.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Shubhankar Das (27), a microbus driver from Umagor village of Kanaighat Sadar Union; Babul Ahmed (28), a leguna (local carrier) driver from Kachupara village of Beerdal; and Fahad Mia (25), a pickup driver from Chatigram area. According to police, the three allegedly abducted the mentally disabled girl while she was alone and later raped her in a group.
Incident Overview
According to the case details and local sources, the incident occurred around 1:00 AM on Tuesday night. The girl, who lives in a village in the South Banigram Union of Kanaighat, had gone to bed with her mother as usual. However, her mother awoke during the night to find the girl missing and the door open. Concerned, the family immediately began searching the area but could not locate her.
The next morning, on Wednesday, the girl was found in a distressed condition with torn clothing near the area between Baluchar and Khalaomora of Beerdal. Family members rushed to the scene and brought her home. Based on her condition and fragmented speech, suspicions were raised, prompting the family to take her to the local police station.
Kanaighat Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Awal reported that the victim informed her family that three men had forcibly taken her away in a vehicle and raped her. Following this, she was taken to the One-Stop Crisis Centre (OCC) at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for medical examination and care. Medical professionals are currently monitoring her physical condition, and the necessary procedures are underway.
Legal Action and Investigation
On Friday (11 July), the victim’s mother filed a formal complaint under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, naming the three individuals. Acting swiftly on the complaint, police conducted raids in different areas and arrested the accused from their respective locations.
OC Abdul Awal confirmed that the arrested individuals have been formally charged with abduction and gang rape. After being presented in court on Friday afternoon, all three were remanded to judicial custody. The police have also initiated procedures to record the victim’s statement and collect evidence in support of the case.
Family Background
The victim’s mother explained that her daughter was born with intellectual disabilities and would occasionally leave home without informing anyone. In previous instances, she was usually found nearby. However, this time was different. When they found her in a traumatized and disheveled state, they immediately suspected something horrific had occurred.
Based on preliminary investigation, police believe that the accused noticed the girl wandering alone by the roadside. Taking advantage of her vulnerability, they forcibly picked her up in a Noah microbus, abducted her, and then raped her in a group.
Publication Date: 04 July, 2025
Reports published in various newspapers on this issue: kalerkantho, bdnews24, prothomalo
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