Police in Gopalganj have launched a concerted manhunt to apprehend a local lorry driver and grocer accused of attempting to rape two young sisters in Kashiani upazila. The suspect, identified as Jasim Munshi, fled the scene after neighbours intervened, prompting law enforcement agencies to carry out targeted raids across adjacent areas to bring him into custody.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon in Charparanpur village, situated within the Ratail Union of Kashiani upazila. The victims, aged nine and seven, are sisters from the neighbourhood. According to police reports and community accounts, the two girls walked to a nearby grocery store operated by Jasim Munshi, son of Jamal Munshi, to buy a loaf of bread.
Upon their arrival, the shopkeeper claimed that bread was temporarily unavailable on the shelves and offered to fetch some from a nearby house. Trusting his word, the young sisters followed him to the residence. Once inside, the suspect led them into an inner room, locked the door from within, and attempted to sexually assault both children.
The young victims cried out for help, their screams alerting neighbours in the adjoining premises. Suspecting an emergency, several residents rushed to the property and tried to force their way into the locked room. Caught off guard by the swift response from the community, the accused slipped through an alternative exit and fled into nearby alleys before the crowd could detain him.
The incident triggered considerable anger and distress across the village. Local residents gathered to voice their concerns, demanding the swift arrest of the suspect and stringent legal proceedings to ensure a deterrent against crimes targeting minors.
Following the ordeal, the father of the two girls, Sultan Mina, lodged a formal first information report (FIR) at Kashiani Police Station on Saturday evening. Investigating officers recorded statements from the victims’ family and interviewed neighbours who assisted in the rescue.
The Officer-in-Charge of Kashiani Police Station, Muhammad Mahfuzur Rahman, confirmed that a case has been formally registered under statutory provisions relating to child protection and sexual offences. Rahman stated that specialized police teams are scouring potential hideouts in the surrounding localities to ensure the suspect is detained and brought before the judicial system without delay.
