A man was detained on Tuesday on allegations of raping a 12-year-old street child after allegedly intoxicating the victim in an abandoned building of the Sylhet Railway Station area around 4 pm.
The detainee, identified as Lodon, 35, lived in the railway station area and was known to be a drug addict.
According to police, citing local residents, the accused allegedly lured the child to the abandoned building after approaching the victim in an intoxicated state.
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When locals tried to intervene, the suspect allegedly threatened them with a weapon, prompting them to alert the Railway Police.
Police later rescued the child and took the accused into custody.
South Surma police were subsequently informed and conducted a drive in the Kadamtali Bus Terminal area around 6 am, where the suspect was detained.
South Surma Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman confirmed the detention, saying police acted on the child's complaint.
"We have detained one person based on the victim's statement. Whether it was rape or an attempted rape will be determined after a clinical examination," the OC said.
He said both the child and the accused were homeless and used to spend nights around the railway station area.
Legal action is being taken and the child has been provided with necessary assistance, the OC added.