<i>Mockery of justice forces her to commit suicide</i>
A rape victim teenage Santal girl in Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur district committed suicide as a village arbitration court made a mockery of justice after forcing her to narrate the incident in presence of hundreds of people.
The victim, Shiuli Hemram, 13, is daughter of Kamolesh Hemram, of Belwa village in Ghoraghat upazila, died at Ghoraghat upazila health complex on Wednesday, five days after her taking poison.
Akil Mia, 30, son of Md Abdus Salam and Niren Chandra Barman, 28, son of Jogesh Chandra Barman of the same village, picked up Shiuli from her residence on July 27, took her to the house of Mongal Hemram and raped her, said the victim's family members and villagers.
Returning home in the evening, Shiuli told the incident to her mother who informed her husband of it. Facing repeated threat by the rapists of dire consequences if the rape incident was disclosed to villagers, father of the victim filed a general diary with Ghoraghat police station on July 29.
Under the influence of the rapists, Chhoto Mandal, a Santal influential person of Belwa village, called arbitration on July 29 noon where the victim and rapists were present along with family members, said several villagers.
Other members of the arbitration court were Ram Hasda, Bablu Hasda, Shuntor Hasda and Sayeb Hasda.
They forced Shiuli to narrate the rape incident in front of hundreds of people, said Shiuli's mother Shonoti Hemram.
At the meeting Sheuli identified the rapists and said that Kalpana Hemram, wife of Mongal Hemram, assisted the criminals.
After hearing, the arbitration court led by Chhoto Mondal fined the two rapists Tk 500 each, said victim Shiuli's father Kamolesh Hemram.
Utterly humiliated by the mockery of justice, Shiuli left the place for home and drank poison, said her mother.
Sending Shiuli to Ghoraghat upazila health complex was delayed till evening due to obstacle created by the rapists.
After battling for life for five days, the girl died on Wednesday afternoon.
"A case was filed accusing three two persons on Wednesday evening but nobody is yet to be arrested. The body was sent to Dinajpur Medical College and Hospital for autopsy," said Md Nasir, officer in charge of Ghoraghat police station.
"The so-called arbitration, conduced without the presence of me and Jamaat Ali, led to the rape victim's suicide," said local UP Chairman Md Labu Chowdhury.
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