The rapists must be punished

The accused in a rape case filed by two university girl students seem to be effectively using their influence to evade arrest.

Simply filing charges may not prove guilt, but investigations must be made against the suspects and they must not be let off the hook until and unless their innocence is proven.

It is alleged that the rapes took place during a birthday party on 28 March night at Rain Tree Hotel. The case was filed a month after the incident and the police took a full 48 hours to actually accept the case. No official reason has been given for this delay.

It is for the court to decide whether the rape and the filming of the rape actually took place. But it is a criminal offence for the police to delay for 48 hours to register the case and then too, harass the plaintiff. Even now the police are prevaricating in making the arrest.

Dildar Ahmed, the father of the main accused Shafat Ahmed, has said his son is at home but the police cannot arrest them as there is no proof to back the accusations. However, when a search was conducted three days after the complaint, he was not found at home. The question in the public mind now is whether the complainants will at all get justice.

Rape is a serious charge and the other complaints made by the two girl students depict their helplessness. They say they were not only raped, but a video was also made of the rape. Threats were made of uploading the video.

The police must prove that the accused are not getting away simply because of their power. Investigations must also be made into by they were unwilling to take the case, why they made the girls wait for hours for the medical examination, and also into the allegations that they police had accepted a Tk 25 lakh bribe.

Investigations must be duly made into the case, the accused must be nabbed and brought to trial.