The accused in the case for torturing and raping an indigenous woman leader in Gomostapur upazila of the district are giving threat to the victim to withdraw the case.

Lying at Chapainawabganj Adhunik Sadar Hospital, the victim yesterday told this correspondent that "Criminals threatened me repeatedly over mobile phone, saying they would cut off my limbs and legs and kidnap my daughter if I do not withdraw the case".

On Monday noon, a gang of 30/35 demanded Tk 3 lakh from the president of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad Chapainawabganj unit when she along with her labourers was planting aman seedlings on her land at Zinarpur village under Parbatipur union of

Gomostapur upazila.

As the indigenous woman leader, also the member of Parbatipur Union Parishad, refused to pay heed to the demand, the gang members swooped on the leader and

beat her. They also attacked the labourers, who managed to flee the scene.

The victim alleged that three of the gang took her to one side of the farmland and raped her while others

took away her power tiller, two bullocks and a shallow pump machine.

She filed a case with Gomostapur Police Station on Monday night, accusing 18 named and 14/15 unnamed people. The indigenous leader was admitted to Gomostapur Upazila Health Complex on the day and shifted to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital early Tuesday.

Sub-Inspector Mominur Rahman, also the investigation officer of the case, said police recovered her power tiller, bullocks and shallow pump machine from different parts of Naogaon district in an abandoned condition on Wednesday night.

We were trying to track the mobile phone calls of the accused, the SI said, adding that three of the named accused- Ziaul Karim, Azizur Rahman, and Anisur Rahman were arrested.