SM Mizanur Rahman :Cross section of people staged demonstrations in different educational institutions across the country on Thursday as the law enforcers have failed to detect and nab the criminals, who were involved in the killing of Comilla Victoria College student Sohagi Jahan Tonu, even after four days.A second year student of History Department of Comilla Victoria College and member of Victoria College Theatre, Tanu was found dead in a bush beside a culvert inside the Comilla Cantonment area on Sunday night. According to locals, her (Tanu) head was smashed. She might have been raped before the murder, they alleged. Meanwhile, students, general people, and leaders and activists of different socio-cultural organisations staged demonstrations, formed human chain and held protest rallies yesterday demanding immediate arrest and trial of the killers of Tonu. When contacted Additional Police Super of Comilla Ali Ashraf said they could not detect the killers yet. However, he said, they are trying their best to apprehend the killers. “At first we will have to be confirmed that who were involved in such gruesome murder as the incident took place inside the Cantonment. Besides, we are now busy on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway to keep the traffic smooth,” he told The New Nation. He said following a demonstration in Comilla town yesterday, vehicular movement in the town came to a halt for about two hours. “We have assured the demonstrators of identifying the killers soon,” he added The following day on Monday, her father Year Hossain filed a murder case with the local police station. Four days have already been elapsed but police have failed to arrest anybody in connection with the killing. “We couldn’t arrest anyone yet,” said Abdur Rob, Officer-in-Charge of Comilla Kotwali Police Station.In Comilla, over 35,000 people, including students of Comilla Government College, Comilla Government Women’s College and different other educational intuitions and cultural organizations, formed a human chain centering Kandirpar Pubali Chattar at around 10:00am demanding the capital punishement of the killers, blocking several roads leading to it.Leaders of different political parties and members of cultural organizations expressed solidarity with the demonstrators.Talking to reporters, Victoria College theatre former president Al Amin said they will continue their movements until the killers are arrested. The victim Tonu was also known as a theatre activist.They will also light candles at Kandirpar in the evening, protesting the murder. The demonstrators also submitted separate memorandums to Comilla Deputy Commissioner and Police Super in this regard. Our DU Correspondent adds; general students of Dhaka University yesterday formed human chain demanding immediate arrest of the killers of Tonu. They also demanded exemplary punishment to the criminals involved in the brutal murder so that ‘no one could dare to think of doing such a barbaric act against women in the future.’In a protest rally at Aparajeo Bangla premises of Dhaka University, the student leaders termed as ‘shocking and shameful’ the alleged gang rapes of 19 years old college girl Sohagi Jahan Tonu in Comilla Cantonement area. “It is shameful for the whole nation as none has been arrested yet after four days of the incidents,’ he added.Meanwhile, Ganajagaron Mancha also staged demonstration and brought out a torch lit procession in front of the National Museum in the city.Focusing on the culture of impunity, Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker said violence against women has increased because of government’s ignorance.Our JnU Correspondent adds: the teachers and students of the Jagannath University formed a human chain in front of the University liberation war sculpture on Thursday and demanded capital punishment to Tonu’s killers.The human chain was formed under the banner of the ‘Students Welfare Association of Comilla Zilla, JnU’ led by Zahirul Islam Raj and Ashraful Islam.JnU Teachers Association President Professor Dr Kazi Saifuddin, Assistant Professor of Islamic History and Culture Department Abu Salh Sekander, and JnU Chief Engineer Sukumer Chandra Saha spoke at the programme.They expressed deep concern over the security in Cantonment area. They also urged the concerned authorities to conduct a proper investigation into the killing and ensure capital punishment of the killers.Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (SCF) of Jagannath University unit brought out a silent protest procession and formed a separate human chain in this regard. JnU SCF President Mehrab Azad and General Secretary Kishorre Kumar addressed the rally.In Rajshahi, teachers and students of Rajshahi University formed a human chain in front of the Central Library demanding immediate arrest and trial of the killers of Sohagi Jahan Tonu.Students of Chittagong University also formed a long human chain yesterday protesting the incident. In Sylhet, students of MAG Osmani Medical College staged demonstrations and formed a human chain in front of Central Shaheed Minar demanding immediate arrest of the criminals, who were involved in killing of Tonu.Bangladesh Nari Mukti Kendra in a statement strongly protested the law enforcers’ role as the killers have not been identified and nabbed yet. “We are demanding immediate arrest of the killers. We want justice,” Sima Dutt, President of Nari Mukti Kendra said.
