Play store
Police have detained a young man over allegations that a group of robbers raided a Saudi expatriate’s home in Gaffargaon and gang-raped his wife before recording the incident on a mobile phone.
The robbers allegedly held the couple’s school-going son at gunpoint, tied him to a tree and fled with cash, gold ornaments and other valuables.
Police detained Rajib, 23, on Friday in connection with the incident and recovered the mobile phone allegedly used to record the assault. Four other suspects remain at large, according to police.
The incident took place on Thursday night in Char Algi union of the upazila.
According to the victim’s family, the expatriate’s wife, 32, and her son were living in the under-construction house when several youths arrived after a power outage. They allegedly called the boy outside, asking for an axe.
When the door was opened, five to six youths allegedly entered the house, threatening them with weapons. They then tied the boy to a tree in the yard and held him hostage.
The suspects allegedly assaulted the woman while one of them recorded the incident on a mobile phone. They also reportedly looted cash, gold ornaments and other valuables from the house.
The family alleged that the attackers threatened to circulate the video on social media if they disclosed the incident.
Hearing the victims’ cries, neighbours came to their aid and informed police. Following a call to the national emergency service 999, police from Gaffargaon Police Station went to the scene and rescued the woman and her son before taking them to the police station.
Police said they launched an operation to arrest the suspects immediately after the incident. Rajib was detained around 3pm on Friday, while the others managed to flee.
Police said Rajib allegedly tried to throw away the mobile phone used to record the incident in water, but officers recovered it.
Gaffargaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman Sheikh said police had launched an investigation immediately after receiving the report.
“Rajib has been detained in connection with the incident. Several police teams are conducting raids to identify and arrest the others involved,” he said, adding that no one involved in the crime would be spared.