Zemira Eli NatanExecutive Director International Unity for Freedom and Equality |
Mr. Toma Joydhar (11 years 8 months) Minority Hindu children kidnapped on 02.12.14 from Bara Basail of Agoiljhara Upazila of Barisal District for forceful conversion to Islam. BDMW helped rescue the victim and arresting perpetrator on 13.12.14.
(The daily “Jugantor” dated 8th December, 2014)
Country: Bangladesh
Act: Right to personal Integrity
Crime: Abduction of Children
Name of the victim: Ms. Toma Joydhar
Age of the victim : 11 years 8 months,
Name of the Father: Kanai Lal Joydhar. (55)
Name of the Mother: Ms. Sarala Joydhar (35)
Date of occurrence : 2nd of December, 2014 at about 11 a.m.
Place of occurrence: Near Bara Basail High School at Agoiljahara Upazila of Barisal District.
Religion : Hindu
Name of the perpetrator: 1) Mohammad Jashim Gharami.
Date of investigation: 8th to 14th December, 2014.
GHRD Contact Person: Ms. Nazli Tuncay.
Facts in Brief: -
The victim Ms.Toma Joydhar, the student of Class Seven, who happened to be within her Bara Basail High School appearing for examination; but on 02.12.2014 at about 11 a.m. one unidentified person introduced himself as one of the friends of victim’s family that her maternal uncle was waiting for her outside the school; Ms. Toma went out from the school gate for searching her relatives on good faith, but the perpetrators all on a sudden compelled her to board the motor bike and fled away with the victim from the place of occurrence within a twinkle of an eye. Thereafter the news of kidnapping has been published in the national daily “ Jugantor” on 8th Dec,14 and other media dated 5th of December,14.
Investigation: -
As per verbal request of victim’s family I, on behalf of BDMW communicated with Md. Sajjad Hossain- Officer in Charge of Agoiljhara Police station at Barisal over cell phone who did not confirm the news of abduction as he said no person on behalf of victim family came to lodge any First information report before his police station.
I also contacted with victim’s family (Ms. Bina Joydhar (17)- Cell number -01781251784 elder sisters of victim) over phone she cried and seek our help for rescue of their minor sister from the forceful possession of Mohammad Jashim Gharami of Madaripur District. They also helped providing me the cell number of the local UP Chairman and also requested us in writing to take appropriate measures to rescue their minor victim. I accordingly again contacted with Officer in Charge of Agoiljhara Police station, Local Chairman of the Union Parishad & requested him to take cognizance of the case and take necessary steps to arrest the perpetrator and to rescue the victim girl. O.C. promised me to recover the victim after filing the case against kidnapper.
Accordingly Md. Sajjad Hossain-Officer in Charge very shortly arrested the perpetrator and rescued the victim and took necessary steps to forward the perpetrator as well as the victim in the court of law as per law to ascertain the age of the victim girl. In the meantime necessary medical examination of the victim is going to be completed.
Action:
Police took action against the perpetrator after accepting F.I.R. from the mother of the victim as per our request for taking necessary steps for recovery of the victim. ( Agoiljhara PS. Case No. 04/111 dated 12.12.2014 under section 7/30 Women and Children Repression Act,2003) They arrested the perpetrator on 13.12.14from Madaripur District and rescued the victim on the same night. I, talked with Md. Akkas Ali –Sub Inspector of Police who informed that perpetrator has been sent to jail custody and the victim has been sent for medical examination at Barisal District today (14.12.14)
Recommendations:
Bangladesh Minority Watch demand:-
a) That the minor victim should be handed over to the father and mother as per law.
b) That the perpetrators should be brought to book as per law of the land
c) That there should not be any discrimination against Minorities of Bangladesh.
d) The minority victim should be protected from forceful conversion by using dubious mechanism swearing affidavit or other method.
e) The Police officers responsible for tracing out the victim as per our request should be rewarded.
Media and Newspapers: The Daily Jugantor dated 05.12.2014,
Through :
Adv. Rabindra Ghosh
Founder President- Bangladesh Minority Watch and
Observer, Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD)
12, K.M. Das Lane, Tikatully, Bholagiri Trust, Sutrapur P.S.,Dhaka, BangladeshZemira Eli Natan
Executive Director
International Unity for Freedom and Equality