No April Fool!

This was no April Fool prank for tiny Shanto Molla.

Chandpur Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 12 April 2014, 04:29 PM
Updated : 13 April 2014, 03:41 AM

On Saturday, the minor first-grade schoolboy succumbed to his wounds sustained on Apr 1 when he was tortured for plucking flowers in Chandpur.

Chandpur General Hospital physician Md Anwar Hossain said Shanto died around 6:45pm on Saturday.

Shanto, the son of vegetable vendor Shukur Molla and housewife Seema Begum, was a student of Chandpur Government Primary School.

His parents and witnesses said mentally retarded Alam Gazi beat up Shanto severely on Apr 1 when he was plucking flowers from a garden in his school.

They say Alam flung Shanto against the wall at one stage, leaving him critically injured with a broken left leg.

Witnesses ‘Siam’ and Kamrunnahar said Shanto climbed on a China rose tree at around 8:30am to pluck flowers.

Then Alam forced him down and thrashed him, they said.

Shanto was taken to a quack and a local hospital before being admitted to Chandpur General Hospital on Friday afternoon.

But his condition did not improve.

Shanto’s mother wants justice.

“I want this man, who thrashed my son, to be hanged.”

Chandpur Government Primary School Headmaster Kabir Patwari said the incident was truly unfortunate, a case of over-reaction.

“We will mourn Shanto's passing away,” he said.

Alam Gazi has gone into hiding after the incident.

Chandpur Model Police Station OC Abdul Quayum said the accused has not yet been arrested, but a case was being filed.