‘Stalker’ lands in jail

A court here yesterday sent a man to jail after rejecting his bail prayer in a case for stalking a schoolgirl and beating her.

The accused is Zahir Ahmed Chowdhury, 33, son of late Samsuddin Chowdhury of Shankarpur village in Kulaura upazila. He is the father of two children.

The victim’s father on Wednesday filed the case with Kulaura Police Station under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, said Eardus Hasan, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station.

According to the case statement, Zahir used to stalk the tenth grader on her way to and from school.

On Tuesday, he gave an illicit proposal to the girl when she was going to school in the area. The victim’s mother then informed Zahir’s elder brother about the matter, which angered him (Zahir).

The following day, when the girl was returning home from her school in an CNG-run auto-rickshaw, Zahir waylaid her and beat her mercilessly. He also kicked her on the stomach.

Hearing screams, locals rushed to the spot and rescued the girl and sent her to the upazila health complex. However, Zahir managed to flee the scene. 

Soon after the incident, the headmaster of the school informed the upazila nirbahi officer about the matter.

Following a case filed by the victim’s father, police arrested Zahir, said the OC.