Violence against women: Case filed against 4 police officials in Cox’s Bazar

A case has been filed against Officer-in-Charge of Ukhiya Police Station Morjina Akter and three other policemen over violence against women allegations.

The other accused of the case are Constable Md Sumon, Inspector (investigation) Nurul Islam and Assistant Sub-Inspector Md Shamim. 

The 22-year-old victim from Cox's Bazar's Moheshkhali filed the case with the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal 3 on Sunday. 

The court ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation's additional superintendent of police to investigate the matter, Public Prosecutor Advocate Ekramul Huda told The Business Standard.  

The case was filed under Clause 9(1) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and clauses 323, 324, 342, 379, and 506 of the penal code. 

According to the case statement, Constable Md Sumon had been in a relationship with the victim for a long time. On July 7 afternoon, he took the victim to his office beside Khuniapalong police checkpost, saying they would get married. 

He asked her to wait till the Kazi arrived and allegedly raped her afterwards. 

Then he took the victim to a nearby shop and left her there, saying he had emergency work to do. 

At 11pm, the victim called the additional superintendent of police and told him about the incident. 

The case statement also states that Officer-in-Charge Morjina misbehaved with the victim and allegedly snatched her phone when she went to the police station. She also locked her in a room and allegedly tortured her with the three other accused policemen. 

The victim attached some images of the torture to the case statement. 

Morjina could not be reached for comment. 

"We will take necessary actions after getting all papers related to the case," Cox's Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police Md Iqbal Hossain said. 

After the death of Major (retired) Sinha Md Rashed Khan in police firing on July 31, cases were filed against nine policemen. 

This prompted many, who had been harassed by police, to file cases against law enforcement agency members.