RAUTAHAT, Feb 17: A man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl in Rautahat on Tuesday has managed to escape allegedly with the help of police.

Shekh Ibran, 20, of Garuda Municipality-3 was arrested four days ago on the charge of raping a 12-year-old girl of Garuda Municipality-9.  Locals and the family members of the victim had called Bariyapur police after the girl yelled for help from the sugarcane fields at around 8 pm. The locals had encircled the field to prevent the perpetrator from escaping. A team of police under the leadership of Assistant Sub-Inspector Ganesh Lama had arrested Ibran from the spot.

But police had to struggle to protect Ibran from an irate crowd of locals. After handing over the victim to her parents, police had taken the perpetrator, who sustained injuries to the head when he was hit with a torchlight by the victim’s mother, to hospital for treatment. But he managed to make off from the hospital. But the victim’s family has accused the police of helping the perpetrator escape.

Meanwhile, the Area Police Office (APO), Garuda refused to file a rape complaint, according to the victim’s uncle. They were astonished when Ibran’s family instead filed a complaint against the girl’s family on the charge of attempted murder and robbery. After pressure from Shyam Yadav, the mayor of Gadhimai Municipality, the APO agreed to file the complaint of the victim after which she was taken to District Hospital, Gaur for medical test.

Meanwhile, Police Inspector of APO Govinda Thapa has stated that the girl had an affair with Ibran for a long time. He further stated that the police had thought it was a dispute as no one had informed them about the rape.  According to him, the girl’s family filed a complaint only after the boy’s family filed a complaint against them. 

SP Yagya Binod Pokharel, chief of Rautahat District Police Office told Republica that this case needs serious attention and police have expedited investigation on the case.

Meanwhile, some locals have blamed the police of trying to settle the case silently due to some political pressure. Some of the political leaders and cadres have urged the family to take back their complaint by offering them money.

 
• man
 
• accused
 
• raping
 
• child
 
• escapes
 
• police
 
• accused
 
• collusion