The life-terms were handed to Arif Sheikh, Mintu Sheikh, Saheb Ali alias Shihab, Jamir Sheikh, Moslem Sheikh, Moktar Hossain Sheikh, Sohel Uddin Sheikh, all belonging to Uttarpar Saota village under Kumarkhali upazila.
The 14-year sentence was awarded to Arif of Jadubaira.
Judge Munshi Md Mashiur Rahman of Women and Children Repression Tribunal handed down the verdict in presence of the convicts.
According to the prosecution, a student of Kushtia Govt. Women’s College hailing from Nalsity Upazila in Jhalakathi district, who was renting quarters in Kushtia town got into a relationship with fruit trader Arif Sheikh of Dabirmollargate in the district town.
On September 30, 2011, Arif took the girl to his friend Mostak’s house in Uttarpar Saota village under Kumarkhali upazila promising marriage.
Later, Arif went out of the house on the pretext of fetching some snacks, facilitating his friend Mostak’s attempt to seduce her.
Gravely insulted, the victim girl left the house around 10pm and sought shelter in the neighbourhood, but she was turned away.
Arif and at least seven of his accomplices took the chance to capture her, after which they took her to a nearby banana orchard in the area and violated her by turn, before fleeing the scene.
Later, victim’s sister-in-law Jhumur Khatun filed a case with Kumarkhali Police Station accusing nine people of the crime. One of them was acquitted.