RAPE ACCUSED BANGLADESHI FATHER'S BAIL PLEA DECISION RESERVED

The Children’s Court will decide a bail petition on September 29, filed by Bangladeshi father who is accused of raping and assaulting his minor daughter. The 45-year-old Azad Mia, hailing from Bangladesh and presently residing at Curti in Ponda is booked under sections 376 (rape), 323 and 354 of Indian Penal Code and section 8 (2) of Goa Children’s Act. He is currently in judicial remand.

Arguments on his bail petition was heard in the Court today wherein the prosecution gave a detailed sequence of events right from April 2009, when the 14-year-old girl became her father’s victim.

Public Prosecutor Poonam Bharne told the Court that Mia often raped his daughter by tying her hands and legs to the bed, in the absence of his wife. “She once telephoned her cousin brother about the atrocities she is facing from her father.

At the same time, she told her cousin that she cannot file a complaint because her father is the only bread earning member of the family,” Bharne said.

However, as the harassment continued the victim at last filed a complaint against Mia at Ponda police station on July 31 and the accused was arrested on the same day. The accused was chargesheeted on August 20 wherein the police have examined nine witnesses including the cousin brother.

Meanwhile, the defense argued that there were no injuries found on the face of the victim as against claims by the prosecution. The accused in an orange-type shirt and grey three-quarter pants was escorted by Ponda police in the Court hall.