One more accused in Khasiamangal gangrape case was nabbed on Saturday – with this, three accused persons were arrested while two more are still absconding.
Acting on a tipoff, Sonamura Police arrested the third accused person, namely Babul Mian on Saturday from a house one Eunuchh Mian at Bejimara village in Sonamura under Sepahijala district in Tripura. Babul Mian hails from Chakmaghat under Teliamura in Khowai district.
Earlier, Melaghar Police under the same district arrested two persons, Jahed Mian and Ahmed Ali, in connection with the gang rape of a minor girl at Khasiamangal under Teliamura. The incident sparked massive condemnation and protests in Teliamura. Local people vandalized shop of one of the accused while ransacked house of another condemning the gang rape and demanding arrests of the culprits. As per complaint lodged by the victim, five persons gang raped her. Police already arrested victim’s fiancé suspecting to be involved in hatching the plan. However, he was not present at the site of rape.
Ironically, Babul Mian – the third accused arrested - is a relative of the victim. Babul is married to a woman of indigenous community and his wife is a relative of the victim. Taking advantage of the relation, Babul and others exploited the simple girl and gang raped her.
After committing the crime, Babul fled away from Teliamura and tried to take shelter at his relatives’ house Indiranagar and Mohanbhog areas under Sepahijala. However, his relatives turned him away and did not allow him to take shelter. Even as they did not help Babul, his relatives also refrained from informing Police. With no chance of getting a safe shelter in his relatives’ places, Babul Mian moved to Bejimaara area. And there, he hid himself at the house of Eunuchh Mian.
Meanwhile, Police got a whiff of his presence at Bejimaara. Acting on a tip off, Joynal Mian of DIB, OC of Sonamura PS Partha Nath Bhoumik along with Police force arrested the accused. Police slapped a case under POCSO Act against Babul. Notably, two more accused persons – Kasem Mian and Gani Mian – are yet to be nabbed.