Summary:
- Four Sylhet Awami League leaders, including Nasir Uddin Khan and Alom Khan Mukti, were arrested in Kolkata on rape charges and transferred to Shillong for investigation.
- The alleged crime occurred while the leaders were hiding in Shillong, with the victim filing a case naming six individuals, two of whom remain at large.
- A Union Parishad chairman was initially detained but later released due to lack of evidence following lobbying by senior Awami League members.
- Conflicting reports suggest direct involvement of two accused, while others were implicated due to their presence at the crime scene.
In a significant development, four high-ranking leaders of the Sylhet District Awami League were arrested in India on charges of involvement in a rape case. The arrests were made by the police in Shillong, Meghalaya, following allegations filed by a victim at the Shillong Police Station.
The individuals arrested include Advocate Nasir Uddin Khan, General Secretary of Sylhet District Awami League; Alom Khan Mukti, President of Sylhet Metropolitan Jubo League; Ripon, Vice-President of the same organization; and Jewel, a member. They were apprehended on Sunday from a flat in New Town, Kolkata, West Bengal. Subsequently, they were transferred to Shillong for further legal proceedings.
According to reliable sources within the Shillong police, the incident occurred while the accused were allegedly hiding in Shillong after fleeing from Sylhet. The victim lodged a complaint implicating six individuals in total, leading to the arrest of these four leaders. Two other suspects remain at large and are being actively pursued by law enforcement.
Reports suggest that during the raid in Kolkata, another individual—a Union Parishad chairman from Sunamganj—was also detained but later released due to lack of evidence against him. This decision reportedly followed lobbying efforts by senior Awami League leaders present in India at the time.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the involvement of the arrested leaders. While some sources claim that Ripon and Jewel were directly implicated in the crime, others argue that Nasir Uddin Khan and Alom Khan Mukti were named as co-accused because they were present in the same flat during the incident.
This case comes amid heightened scrutiny of political figures and their activities, particularly following recent political upheavals in Bangladesh. The arrests have sparked widespread discussions about accountability and legal consequences for those in positions of power.
The investigation is ongoing, with Indian authorities working to apprehend the remaining suspects and ensure justice for the victim.
Source: Daily Nayadiganta
