Three sent to jail over alleged gang-rape, blackmail in Natore

A Natore court today sent three accused to jail in a case filed over the alleged gang-rape of a 24-year-old woman in Lalpur upazila of Natore last Saturday.

The accused are Md Ashik Zaman, 20; Md Kazal Islam, 19; and Md Shakil Islam Badal, 23. They are residents of different villages in Lalpur, said Md Shafikul Islam, officer-in-charge of Lalpur Police Station.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The OC said acting on a tip-off, police conducted raids in different areas of the upazila this morning and arrested the suspects.

Last night, a rape case was filed with Lalpur Police Station in connection with the incident.

Citing the case statement, the OC said Ashik was acquainted with the victim and that the two had been in contact on Facebook before meeting on Saturday.

Ashik allegedly picked her up in an auto-rickshaw driven by Kazal, took her to a park and later brought her to the house of another accused that afternoon.

“At one point, the prime suspect raped her while another accused recorded a video. The other two suspects then raped her after threatening her with the footage,” the OC said, citing the complaint.

The accused later allegedly tried to extort money from the victim by blackmailing her with the video, he said.

The victim’s family lodged a formal complaint the following day, leading to the filing of the case, the OC added.

The victim has been sent to Natore General Hospital for a medical examination, the OC added.

“Police are currently trying to apprehend others involved in the crime,” he said.