The sequence of events unfolded in the remote village of Uttar Chhaygharia within the Chhagalnaiya upazila. Police acted swiftly upon receiving intelligence, launching a coordinated raid in the early hours of Tuesday (August 18) to apprehend the primary suspects involved in the assault.

According to investigative findings and statements provided by the victim’s family, the incident took place on Friday afternoon. The victim, a mother of two children who suffers from physical and mental disabilities, was lured away from her home under the false pretext of receiving financial aid. Three local men—identified as battery-run rickshaw (tomtom) driver Shakib, Arman, and a third accomplice named Badsha—conspired to escort her to an isolated location. Once away from public view, the perpetrators subjected the vulnerable woman to a brutal gang rape before abandoning her at the scene.

When details of the assault gradually surfaced within the local community, attempts were allegedly made by influential neighbourhood figures to bypass legal authorities. On Monday night, a hastily convened local arbitration meeting, or salish, was held by self-appointed village elders. Ignoring the severity of a violent felony, the kangaroo court ordered the accused to pay a fine of 30,000 local currency units as a settlement, effectively pressuring the traumatized family into silence and avoiding police notification.

The clandestine arrangement crumbled when local law enforcement caught wind of the cover-up. Acting on the tip-off, a dedicated team from Chhagalnaiya Police Station raided Uttar Chhaygharia village at dawn on Tuesday. Three suspects were successfully tracked down and taken into custody during the operation.

The arrested individuals have been formally identified as 18-year-old Shakib, son of Monir Ahmed; 16-year-old Yasin, son of Ibrahim; and 15-year-old Arman, son of Anwar Hossain, all residents of the same village. Police have confirmed that efforts are actively ongoing to apprehend the remaining accomplice, Badsha, who managed to evade capture during the initial raid.

Following the arrests, the victim’s husband lodged a formal First Information Report (FIR) at Chhagalnaiya Police Station, initiating criminal proceedings under relevant women and children repression statutes.

Local union parishad member Mokshed Ahammed Munna expressed profound shock over the incident, condemning both the assault and the illegal arbitration attempt. He emphasized that convening a secret tribunal to resolve a violent gang rape is entirely unlawful and demanded a rigorous, transparent investigation to ensure accountability.

The victim’s grieving husband voiced his anguish to reporters, stating that the perpetrators exploited his wife’s vulnerability with false promises of assistance. He recounted how local arbiters coerced his family into accepting the 30,000-unit penalty during Monday night’s coercive meeting, adding that police intervention ultimately brought the culprits to light.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Abu Taher of Chhagalnaiya Police Station confirmed that legal action has been formally initiated following the arrests. He further warned that authorities are closely investigating the individuals who orchestrated the illegal arbitration, stressing that anyone found complicit in attempting to suppress a serious criminal offence through backroom settlements will face strict legal consequences.