Chittagong: Chittagong Police on Monday admitted ‘partial failure’ in taking prompt action over the rape of four women during robbery in a house under Karnaphuli police station here on December 12.

Harun-ur-Rashid Hazari, Deputy Police Commissioner (port) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) at a press briefing at Karnafuli thana explained CMP’s position regarding the case.

There was partial failure in the role of police after the sensitive incident, said the deputy police commissioner adding that they delayed to take the case and arrest the accused.

Replying to a question regarding the ‘mysterious role’ of the Officer-in-Charge of Karnafuli Police Station in handling the case, Harun-ur-Rashid said, ‘I will inform the CMP Commissioner about this.’

The Commissioner might take action in this regard as soon as the accused are arrested, he added.

In a written statement, Harun-ur-Rashid claimed that the complainant didn’t mention about rape when he came to the police station after two-three days of the incident.

Earlier on December 12, a gang of robbers allegedly raped four women after committing robbery in a house at Karnafuli in the port city.

On December 13, police sent victim’s family members to Patia thana when they went to Karnafuli Police Station to file a case, and Patia police again sent them back to Karnafuli thana police.

After seven days, with the interference of State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, police finally took the case and arrested three people—Md Suman alias Babu, 23, of Shah Mirpur village, Md Ismail Faruki, 25 of Shikalbaha village of Patia upazila and Bappi, 23-in this connection.