Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) yesterday demanded an exemplary punishment for the people who tortured and gang-raped an indigenous women's leader in Chapainawabganj's Nachol upazila on Monday, allegedly for her refusal to pay extortion money.

In a press release, the rights body also expressed concern over all forms of violence against the indigenous communities and their eviction from homes in different parts of the country by land grabbers and criminals.

The indigenous women's leader, also a union parishad member, was beaten up and raped by 30-35 people when she refused to pay an extortion of Tk 3 lakh demanded by the criminals while she was working at her paddy field, said the victim.

She said three of the gang took her to one side of the farmland where she was raped, while others took away her power tiller, two bullocks and a water pump machine.

The attack was allegedly instigated by Abdur Razzak, chairman of Rasulpur union of Niyamatpur, Nauga, adjacent to the village of the adivasi woman.

Talking to the Daily Star by phone, she said her power tiller and bullocks were recovered by police from the chairman Abdur Razzak’s house.

"He |Razzak] is the brother-in-law of Monirul Islam Montu, one of the main accused in the rape case and the principal land grabber," she said. She filed two cases with Gomostapur Police Station Monday night-one for rape and looting and the other for assault-against 18 named and 14/15 unnamed people, including Razzak, she added.

The victim was admitted to Gomostapur Upazila Health Complex on the day before being shifted to the district sadar hospital early Tuesday.

The investigation officer, Sub-inspector Mominur Rahman, said police had arrested three of the named accused-Ziaul Karim, Azizur Rahman, and Anisur Rahman.