80-year-old man held over rape attempt on minor Girl in Cumilla

Police in Cumilla have detained an 80-year-old man over allegations that he attempted to rape a seven-year-old girl after taking her into a room in Manoharganj upazila.

The man, identified as Anu Mia, was detained on Friday afternoon following allegations that he attempted to sexually assault the child at a house in another village of the same union on Tuesday.

Police said they were preparing to file a case in connection with the allegations.

Anu Mia is a resident of a village in Jholam South Union but lives at his in-laws’ home in another village within the union. The alleged incident took place there around noon on Tuesday, according to local residents and relatives of the child.
Relatives said the girl’s parents had been away from the area for about a month because of financial difficulties and debts. The child has since been staying with her paternal uncle and aunt.

According to the relatives, Anu Mia allegedly lured the girl into his room by offering her money. Another child who was accompanying her was allegedly given 50 taka and asked to leave. The man then allegedly attempted to sexually assault the girl.

Local residents later detained Anu Mia and tied him to an electricity pole. Several residents said he was released the same day after local people discussed resolving the matter informally.

The girl has also reportedly told relatives that Anu Mia had behaved inappropriately toward her on previous occasions.

Anu Mia has denied the allegations. While residents had tied him to the electricity pole, he reportedly said the girl had gone to his room to collect vegetables and denied attempting to assault her.

Police were alerted to the incident through the national emergency hotline 999 on Tuesday. Sub-Inspector Sunayan Barua of Manoharganj police station went to the scene with another officer.

Barua said on Friday evening that police did not find Anu Mia tied to the electricity pole when they arrived. Officers were told that local residents had already released him.

He said police subsequently spoke to the child’s family, who at the time told officers that no such incident had occurred. Police then advised the family to file a complaint at the police station.

Manoharganj police station officer-in-charge Maksud Ahmed said on Friday afternoon that he had learned of the allegations and that police had visited the scene. He said the child’s family had not filed a formal complaint at that time.

When informed that the girl’s parents were reportedly staying away from the area because of debt, Ahmed said he had not previously been aware of the matter and ordered police to return to the scene.

Around 5 p.m. on Friday, Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman said he had directed the police station to take necessary legal action after being informed about the allegations.

He said Anu Mia had already been detained and that the child’s paternal uncle had told police he would file the case because the girl’s parents were not in the area.

“The case is being prepared,” the police superintendent said. Once the case is formally filed, Anu Mia will be shown arrested and produced before a court, he added.

Later on Friday evening, Officer-in-Charge Maksud Ahmed confirmed that Anu Mia had been taken into police custody and that preparations were underway to file the case.

Ahmed also said police would investigate whether there had been any negligence on the part of the officers who responded to the scene on the day of the alleged incident.