Blockade in Khagrachhari over rape of schoolgirl

A half-day road blockade, called by Jumma Chhatra Janata, is underway in Khagrachhari protesting the rape of a 12-year old Marma schoolgirl and demanding the arrest and punishment of the perpetrators. The blockade is scheduled to continue from 6am to 12pm.

From early morning, protesters lit fires and demonstrated on various roads in the district. However, no major untoward incident has been reported so far.

Abdul Baten Mridha, Officer-in-Charge of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station, said, “We are on the ground to ensure no harm is caused to public life. When the protesters tried to block roads by placing tree trunks and setting fires in the morning, police vigilance prevented them from succeeding.”

Law enforcement agencies remain on alert to maintain normalcy in public life.

On Tuesday, a student was gang-raped in Singinala area of Khagrachhari while returning home from private tuition. The next morning, the victim’s father filed a case with Khagrachari Sadar Police Station against three unidentified individuals.

OC Abdul Baten Mridha confirmed that, with the help of the army, police arrested one suspect named Shayon Shil. Efforts are underway to apprehend the others.