Raped by two, eighth-grader commits suicide

Eleven days after being allegedly raped, an eighth-grader student ended her life in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat district on Thursday night.

According to her family members, the girl took the extreme step after being unable to bear the trauma and embarrassment of the rape incident. She allegedly committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling of her house.

The alleged rape occurred on November 7 when the teen was returning home around 5 pm after attending a ceremony in her high school.

Shahinur, a local youth, offered to drop her on his motorcycle but instead took her to an abandoned school building and allegedly raped her. His friend too came to the spot took turns violating her. The girl was later rescued by local residents.

On November 8, a case of sexual harassment was filed against Rafikul and Shahinur following a complaint lodged at the Khetlal police station by the girl's family.

However, the accused remained absconding while the girl’s family claimed that they had been being threatened by the accused.

The Officer-in-charge of Khetlal police station Nirendranath Mandal said, "We are making drives to arrest the accused in the sexual harassment case".

“Another case will be filed against the accused if evidence of abetment to suicide is found during the investigation," he said.