Protest rally not held for fear of reprisals

Local women spontaneously took part in a protest rally of the Sammilita Nari Samaj (SNS) on March 16 near the Kalapani house where Kohinoor was gang-raped and burnt to death, but nobody turned up at the yesterday's rally at the same venue.

On March 16, the women assured the SNS leaders that they would organise a rally there and invited the leaders to the rally.

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The SNS leaders came to the rally yesterday only to find no-one at the venue.

They suspected that the fear of reprisals from the killers has forced the organisers to keep themselves away from the rally.

"Do not you understand why the people disappeared from the scene even after inviting the Nari Samaj leaders. The criminals must have threatened them," a local whispered.

Meanwhile, police investigating the Kohinoor rape and murder case said they are sure that they would traced the culprits soon.

"We are verifying some names which we already have collected from the arrestees and locals," said Investigation Officer (IO) Shamsuddin.

Police picked up two youths -- Tito and Shahadat -- from Kalapani area yesterday for quizzing. Shahadat is the owner of a tobacco powder factory.

However, police are yet to arrest the prime accused in the case, Habibur Rahman.

Police have already arrested four people, including two sons of the owner of the house where Kohinoor was raped and killed.