Man arrested over rape in Mymensingh

Police arrested a man early today in a case filed in connection with the rape of a woman and then stealing her money in Mymensingh's Ishwarganj upazila.

The incident took place at Laxmiganj last night on her journey back home to Kishoreganj from Dhaka amid the countrywide shutdown as her husband became ill, said police.

The arrestee -- Shaheed Mia, 30, son of Abdul Motalab of Mujatia village in the same upazila -- assisted the rapist, said Md Muklesur Rahman Akanda, officer-in-charge of Ishwarganj Police Station.

The 40-year-old woman filed a case with the police station, accusing five persons including Shaheed, our Mymensingh correspondent reports quoting the OC.

Quoting the case statement, OC Muklesur said the woman, hailing from Tarail upazila in Kishoreganj, works as a household staff in Dhaka and started her journey from the capital yesterday.

After numerous stops the woman reached Laxmiganj yesterday evening. After hearing of her troubles, a youth man Sharif Mia of the locality agreed to help her, the OC said.

After they crossed Laxmiganj Bazar, some four people led by Sujon Mia, 35, of the locality waylaid them, beat up the Sharif and chased him away, Muklesur added.

Sujon also snatched the man's mobile phone, said the OC quoting the case report.

Later, Sujon with the help of his friends Shaheed Mia, Shafiq Mia, 32, and Lal Mia, 33, took the woman to a nearby place and Sujon raped her while the others assisted, said the police official.

They also snatched Tk 9,000 from her that she had saved for her husband's treatment, said the OC.

Police immediately started raiding the area and arrested Shaheed early today, he said, adding that they are continuing drives to arrest the other accused.

Meanwhile, the victim was sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for tests today.