Minor girl flogged to death for affair; 4 held

Dhaka, Feb 4: A 14-year-old girl was lashed to death in Bangladesh for allegedly having an illicit relationship with a married man. Four people including a Muslim cleric has been arrested by police in connection with the minor girl's death.

Police said that the victim named Hena Begum was accused of having an affair with a 40-year-old married man and the punishment was awarded under Islamic Sharia law.

The victim's family members said a village court consisting of elders and clerics passed the sentence to receive 100 lashes in a Fatwah or a religious court at a village in the outskirts of the capital.

The girl collapsed midway after being lashed 70 times publicly with a bamboo cane and had to be rushed to hospital where she died hours later.

The man with whom Hena was having an alleged affair was also sentenced to 100 lashes. But the man fled to escape the punishment.

Sources said that the village elders also asked the girl's father to pay a fine of about 50,000 Taka.

Police sources said that it had not been confirmed yet whether she died because of the punishment she received or another reason.

District superintendent of police AKM Shahidur Rahman said, "We are still waiting for the post-mortem report. In the meantime, we are also looking for another 14 people including a teacher from a local madrasas in connection with this case."

OneIndia News
(With inputs from PTI)