National

Kabiraj raped teenager for one-and-a-half-year

An ill teenage girl went to a Kabiraj (herbal medicine practitioner) for her treatment but instead she was raped by him for about a year and a half.

The alleged rapist is Kabiraj Kamruddin, 50, a resident of Rahimpur village in Biswanath upazila of Sylhet.

The man has been run an Ayurvedic business named 'Sifa Todbiraloy' in a rented house in Biswanath Puran Bazar area, and different misdeeds, some locals said declining to be named.

Police, however, arrested Kamruddin and his wife Sumi Begum, 40, in this connection, and they were sent to jail following a court order. 

On Thursday mother of the rape victim complained to police station against Kamruddin. Later, the complaint was recorded as case.

Following her complaint, police rescued the teenage girl from 'Sifa Todbiraloy' and arrested the Kabiraj and his wife. 

Victim's mother said she took her sick daughter to Kabiraj Kamruddin about a year and a half ago.

He asked her that her daughter needs to stay in his house for better treatment, and took cash Tk 10,000 from her on the account of healing. Accordingly, she did so.

The woman said she, later, went to the Kabiraj but he barred her to take back her daughter. Thus he confined the girl for about a year and a half, she added.

Quoting the victim, police said Kamruddin developed physical relation with her in the name of treatment. He would confined her in locked room. Recently he has been introducing her as her wife making fake marriage registration.

Seeking anonymity, some residents besides 'Sifa Todbiraloy' said earlier Kamruddin confined another girl there.

Biswanath Police Station officer in-charge Shameem Musa said the so called Kabiraj and his wife were arrested over confinement and rape of the teenage girl. And they were sent to jail following a court order, he added.