Hill Voice, 26 December 2023, Rangamati: Two school girls were reportedly raped while visiting Christmas festival, the biggest religious event of Christians, at Basanta Pankhua Para in Balukhali union under Rangamati Sadar Upazila.

According to local source, the biggest religious festival of Christians- Christmas festival was held on 24 December 2023 at Basanta Pankhua Para of Balukhali union of Rangamati Sadar upazila under Rangamati hill district. Many from nearby Jurachari upazila also went to visit the event as the two victimized girls.

Around 2.00/3.00 am, the victims came looking for vehicle to return home after the event. At that moment, the persons waylaid the girls outside- Rubel Chakma (26), son of Arun Chakma of Ward No. 5, of Banajogichara union and Russell Chakma (30), son of Akshay Chakma of Ward No. 4 of Banajogichara union along with others two persons- asked the victims to go with them. Reportedly, as the frequent insistences were refused, the 4 youths abducted and raped the girls in a Jum ghar (Jum house) near the Pankhua Para.

A reliable source said Santosh Bikash Chakma, Chairman of the Banajogichara Union Parisad, is pressurizing the victim’s families to compromise with the rapists. In addition, it is known that the rapists are actively associated with ruling Awami Jubo League politics. So, they care little about anyone even having committed crime like rape.

It is learnt that one of the victims studies in grade ten while the other an SSC candidate in 2024, from Bhubanjoy Government High School. Both of them are from Panchari village of Ward No. 2 of Banajogichara union under Jurachari upazila.