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Four Awami League Leaders Arrested in India for Illegal Entry, Not Rape

December 14, 2024 1:23 PM

On August 5, the Awami League government was ousted from power following widespread public protests. After the fall of the government, many leaders of the Awami League, from the central level to the grassroots, including ministers and MPs, went into hiding. While law enforcement agencies arrested several of them, many sought refuge abroad, including in India and other countries.

Recently, police in Dawki, Meghalaya, arrested four leaders of the Awami League and Jubo League from Sylhet who had fled from Kolkata. The arrested individuals are Nasir Uddin Khan, General Secretary of the Sylhet District Awami League and former Chairman of the District Council; Alam Khan (Mukti), President of Sylhet Metropolitan Jubo League; Abdul Latif (Ripon), Vice-President of the same organization; and Elias Hossain (Jewel), a member.

Various media outlets in Bangladesh and India have claimed that these leaders were arrested on charges of rape.

Reports Supporting This Claim:

Indian Media: Published reports claiming the arrest on rape charges, such as in Zee 24 Ghanta link here.
Bangladeshi Media:

Somoy TV, Naya Diganta, Kaler Kantho, DBC News, Channel 24, Jugantor, Manabzamin, ATN News, Independent TV, Ekushey TV (YouTube), Desh TV, Ekattor TV, Dinkal, Kalbela, Banglavision, Bangla Outlook, Bangla TV, News24, Thikana News, Samakal, Bhorer Kagoj, The Business Standard (YouTube), The Financial Express, Daily Sun, Dhaka Tribune, Daily Sangram, Inquilab, Jaijaidin, Bangladesh Times, Bayanno TV, Daily Bangladesh, Daily Campus, NewsG24, Face the People (Facebook), Arthosangbad, Corporate Sangbad, Samprotik Deshkal, Sonali News, Asia Bani, NewsG24 (YouTube), Zoom Bangla, Amar Barta, Amar Sangbad, Delta Times, Dhaka Today

Both Janakantha and Jamuna TV initially reported the same claim but later removed their reports.

Additional Claims on Social Media:

The Advisor to the Interim Government for Youth and Sports, as well as the Ministry of Labor and Employment, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, also shared a Facebook post echoing the same claim. Additionally, on December 10, during a distinguished gathering organized by the Jamaat-e-Islami in South Kafrul, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman reiterated the allegation.

Facebook Posts:

YouTube Videos:

Posts on X (formerly Twitter):

Fact Check

An investigation by the Rumor Scanner team revealed that the four Awami League and Jubo League leaders from Sylhet were arrested by Indian police on charges of illegal entry, assault, robbery, and other related offenses, and not on charges of rape

“On December 9, The Shillong Times, a Meghalaya-based newspaper, published a report clarifying the matter. According to the report (link to article), the four leaders were arrested in connection with an attack on truck drivers in Dawki, located in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills, last month. The arrests were made in Kolkata, and the suspects were transferred to Jowai on December 8. They are currently in police custody, and a case has been filed at Dawki Police Station. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Importantly, The Shillong Times report did not mention any allegations of rape against the arrested individuals.

On December 10, Dhaka Post published a related report (link to article). The report, which cited a journalist from The Shillong Times, detailed the case numbers and charges filed against the accused. The charges include causing harm with dangerous weapons, robbery, and voluntarily causing hurt, but no rape charges were mentioned.

The Rumor Scanner team also obtained a copy of the case file, which corroborated the details mentioned in the Dhaka Post article. Additionally, Miz Nongrang, Meghalaya’s Director General of Police, informed BBC Bangla (link to article):

“There is no rape allegation against these four individuals. They were arrested based on charges filed under four sections of the Indian Penal Code and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act at Dawki Police Station. They were brought in from Kolkata under this case.”

To further confirm the details, the Rumor Scanner team contacted Chemphang Syrti, the Superintendent of Police for West Jaintia Hills District. He stated:

“Based on reliable sources, these Bangladeshi nationals were arrested under India’s Foreigners Act and assault charges. They were detained for illegal entry into India without valid documentation. Their involvement in the assault case is currently under investigation. They are in judicial custody as per court orders. There are no allegations of rape or sexual harassment against them.”

Conclusion:

The online claim that four Awami League and Jubo League leaders from Sylhet were arrested in India on charges of rape is misleading. They were, in fact, arrested for illegal entry, assault, and robbery.