Police have arrested a man on charges of raping a physically challenged woman in Phulbari Upazila of Kurigram.
Shahjalal Mia, 35, son of Ahsan Ali of Kishamat Prankrishna village, was arrested from Purba Dhaniram village in the upazila on Tuesday morning.
According to the victim’s family and police, the 25-year-old woman was resting at her home on the afternoon of September 9 when Shahjalal allegedly found her alone and forcibly raped her.
When the woman screamed and locals rushed to the scene, the accused fled.
Following the incident, an influential local group allegedly attempted to hush up the matter. However, after the attempt failed, the victim filed a case with Phulbari Police Station on Tuesday morning.
Abdul Awal, the investigating officer and a sub-inspector at Phulbari Police Station, said the accused was arrested during a raid shortly after the complaint was received.
Mahmud Hasan Naim, officer-in-charge of Phulbari Police Station, said the accused was produced before the court in the afternoon, and the court ordered that he be sent to jail.
The victim was also sent to Kurigram General Sadar Hospital for a medical examination.