Rape of 4-year-old in Ctg: Main accused confesses, sent to jail

A man accused of raping a four-year-old girl in the city's Bakalia area was sent to prison on Friday after giving a confessional statement in court. 

The legal proceedings followed a tense six-hour standoff on Thursday, during which an angry mob violently clashed with law enforcement in an attempt to snatch the suspect from police custody.

The victim's father filed a case against the accused, Monir Hossain, at the Bakalia Police Station on Friday morning. 

Following his court appearance in the afternoon, a magistrate ordered him to jail. 

Meanwhile, the child is currently receiving treatment at the One-Stop Crisis Centre of Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors have declared her out of danger.

The unrest erupted on Thursday afternoon in the Chairman-ghata area when police initially detained Monir. Hundreds of enraged locals surrounded the police vehicle, demanding the suspect be handed over to them for immediate retribution. The mob's fury was primarily fueled by a false rumor rapidly circulating in the neighborhood that the child had died from her injuries.

As the situation escalated, additional police forces were deployed. By 8:00 PM, police were forced to use tear gas, sound grenades, and blank shots to disperse the crowd, who retaliated by hurling bricks. 

Taking advantage of a sudden power outage around 10:15 PM, police tactically managed to extract the accused from a nearby building and secure him in custody. 

However, the agitated crowd subsequently set a police vehicle on fire, and sporadic chases between protesters and law enforcement continued past midnight.

Bakalia Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Solaiman confirmed that 30 police officers sustained injuries during the clashes and received first aid. 

He added that four individuals have been detained on charges of attacking law enforcement and stealing a battery from a police vehicle. 

Preparations are underway to file a separate case regarding the assault on police. Authorities reported that the situation in the area has now stabilized.

Speaking to the media, the victim's father attributed the public's violent outburst to widespread frustration over the country's often prolonged judicial processes. 

He urged the authorities to ensure a speedy trial to swiftly bring the perpetrator to justice.