Three Year Indigenous Santal Child Raped in Naogaon
On 23 June 2015, a three year old indigenous Santal girl has been raped by her uncle Som Soren,35, son of Lokkhi Soren at Dadroil Ampara village under Paroil Union Parishod of Niamotpur Upojela in Naogaon district. Betka Hasda, victim’s father has filed a case against the alleged (Som Soren) with Niamotpur Police Station in this connection. However, the alleged is yet to be arrested by police.
It is learnt that, on 23 June 2015, around 3 pm in the afternoon, the alleged Som Soren visited the victim’s house in order to take some curry, while returning home he took the victim along with him. It was noticed in the evening that the perpetrator did not return the victim to her house; in search of the victim, the parents went to Som Soren’s house and learnt that he has taken the victim to the river bank and since then he has not returned. The next day on 24 June 2015 in the morning, family members of the victims rescued her from the perpetrator’s house in a blood stain cloth, and soon take the victim to Niyamotpur upojela health complex. After seeing the deterioration condition of the victim, the doctors of the health complex referred the victim to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
The victim was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Nowshed Ali, the divisional chief of Child Surgery Department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital informed that the victim is in a terrible health condition. The victim’s genital has been seriously damaged and both the organs of the lower parts of her body have been connected to each other. Victim is now under the supervision of the the doctors in the hospital and receiving medical treatment. Although the minor girl underwent a surgical operation already, she might need another operation to get her out of danger.
On 29 June 2015, after six days of the incident, victim’s father Betka Hasda has been filed a rape case against Som Soren with the Niyamotpur Police Station under Naogaon district. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Niyamotpur police station, Obaidul Haque said that, police are trying to arrest the rapist.
On 7 July 2015, representatives of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad-JAP visited the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and met the victim and her parents. JAP representatives called on civil society members, NGOs, and Human Rights organizations to provide financial and legal support to the victim.. Adivasi Chatra Parishad, student unit of JAP, carried out a demonstration demanding immediate arrest of the rapist on 8 July 2015 at Niyamotpur Bazaar.
