DU mob lynching: ‘Several students’ named in case, 2 handed over to police

The two detainees are - physics student Jalal Ahmed and environment student Mohammad Sumon

The Dhaka University administration has handed over two students to police after charging ‘several unidentified pupils’ over the lynching of Tofazzal Hossain, a man believed to be living with mental disorders, at the institution’s Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall.

Mohammad Amanullah, the supervisor of the university's estate office, filed the case at Shahbagh Police Station on Thursday, said Md Abdullah Al Mamun, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Ramna Division.

“Efforts are under way to arrest those involved in the incident,” he said.

The university administration handed over physics department’s Jalal Ahmed and soil, water, and environment department’s Mohammad Sumon to police in connection with the beating of Tofazzal.

Shahbagh police Sub-Inspector Al Amin confirmed their detentions to bdnews24.com.

The plaintiff said in the case statement that a man was wandering suspiciously at the entrance to Dhaka University’s Fazlul Huq Hal around 7:45pm on Sept 18.

He was detained and then taken to the guest room at the hall by ‘some students.’ He was beaten indiscriminately on an allegation of stealing mobile phones.”

At that time, the victim identified himself as Tofazzal. Realising that the man is mentally unstable, he was given food at the canteen before being detained and beaten again.

When the incident was reported to several residential teachers, they assisted in taking Tofazzal to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where the doctor on duty declared him dead.

A seven-strong committee, led by the residential hall’s House Tutor Alamgir Kabir has been formed to investigate the incident and submit a report shortly by Thursday evening.

The university administration has also expressed regret over the death of 32-year-old Tofazzal.

Belal Gazi, Tofazzal’s friend who identified his body at the DMCH morgue, said the deceased hailed from Kanthal Toli Union in Patharghata Upazila in Barishal’s Barguna District.

He said Tofazzal completed his Master’s in Accounting from BM College, but was not employed due to his mental health struggles.

For the past three to four years, since his issues became serious, he would wander different parts of Dhaka as a vagabond. At times, he would stay near Dhaka University.