Self-Styled Healer Arrested in Kalapara over Alleged Abuse and Blackmail of a Teenager
A man named Taizul Islam Musa (40) has been arrested in Kalapara, Patuakhali, on allegations that, under the guise of faith-healing treatment, he formed an illicit relationship with a teenage girl and blackmailed her after recording intimate videos. The Special Response Battalion (SRB-8) arrested him on Tuesday evening from the Chowrasta area of Kalapara municipal town. He was later handed over to Kalapara police station.
Musa is the son of Razzak Molla of Dalbuganj union in Kalapara upazila. Having offered faith-healing treatment for a long time, he was locally known as 'Musa Huzur'.
On 31 October, the teenager's stepfather filed a case with Kalapara police station against Musa and 11 others. According to the case statement, the stepfather had been living with his wife and stepdaughter in a rented house in Kalapara town for two months.
The statement says the girl had been ill for a long time, and two months ago the family contacted Musa for treatment through an acquaintance. Musa then began visiting their home frequently on the pretext of treatment, and at one stage became close to the teenager.
According to the allegations, on 2 October at around 10:30 pm, taking advantage of the stepfather's absence, Musa went to the house with 10 to 11 people. Luring her with a promise of marriage, he then formed a physical relationship with the teenager. The people accompanying Musa allegedly recorded a video of the moment in secret.
The case also states that intimate videos were recorded on several more occasions afterwards. It further alleges that an intimate video of the girl's mother was also recorded.
When the teenager pressed Musa for marriage, he refused. Afterwards, his companions allegedly sent the videos to the girl and her mother on WhatsApp from various numbers. On 15 October, Musa and his associates went to the house again, said he would not marry the girl, and threatened to spread the videos on social media if they did not comply, the statement says.
Kalapara police station officer-in-charge Md Nazrul Islam said the arrested accused would be sent to court tomorrow. Efforts are under way to arrest the other accused in the case.
