Torture of student at IU: Hall admin was indifferent all along: probe
Two probe bodies have found Chhatra League activists' involvement in the torture of fresher Phulpori Khatun at Kushtia's Islamic University.
One of them has also found serious negligence on the part of the university authorities in dealing with the incident.
The probe committee formed by the university in its report said that the torture of the student at a dorm was planned, and that university Chhatra League Vice President Sanjida Chowdhury was the mastermind.
The probe body, constituted by the Kushtia DC following a High Court order, said the hall provost and others did not take any steps to prevent such an incident. The university proctor was also indifferent, it added.
Yesterday, Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy placed the two reports before the High Court bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil during hearing of a writ petition.
The bench fixed today for passing an order on the petition. It also asked the DAG to place the university's rules and regulations before it today.
Speaking to The Daily Star, writ petitioner Gazi Md Mohsin said the IU probe failed to say anything about the negligence by the proctor, provost, and house tutor.
Phulpori on February 14 alleged that Chhatra League leader Sanjida, activist Tabassum Islam and several others tortured her on the night of February 12 for staying at the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall without their "permission". They allegedly tortured her from 11:00pm until 3:30am.
Mohsin filed the writ petition on February 16 and the court directed the Kushtia deputy commissioner to constitute a three-member committee to investigate the incident and submit a probe report to it.
TORTURE PLANNED
DAG Tushar yesterday read out parts of the probe reports before the court.
According to the report, the university probe body found involvement of six students, including Sanjida.
The five others are: Halima Akhtar Urmi of Fine Arts; Ishrat Jahan Mim of Law; and Tabassum Islam and Mabia Jahan of Finance and Banking, and Lima.
Physical and mental torture was inflicted on Phulpori as per the directives of Sanjida, it mentioned.
"From the confessional statement of Tabasum, it appears that Urmi and Mim on the night of February 12 recorded video during the brutal torture of Phulpori at the dining room of the hall. But no video record was found," the DAG quoted the report as saying.
NEGLIGENCE OF PROVOST
While reading out parts of the probe report filed by the DC office, Tushar yesterday said Tabassum asked Phulpori to meet her on February 8. Phulpori met her on February 10 instead, which angered Tabassum.
Under the leadership of Tabassum, Phulpori was harassed in the common room in presence of other girls at 8:00pm on February 11. Around 9:00pm, Phulpori in presence of Sanjida was taken to room-306 which is "gono room".
Phulpori was mentally tortured and abused in front of the other girls. At one stage, she was forced to hold Sanjida's feet. The victim broke down mentally, said the probe report.
Under pressure from Sanjida, the provost ordered Phulpori to leave the hall.
Sanjida, Tabassum and others were seen grabbing the hands of Phulpori forcefully in presence of the hall provost. Later, she was forced to sign a letter to Provost Prof Shamsul Alam.
During the submission of her statement on February 20, Phulpori was reported to have a black spot on her left cheek.
According to the report, Provost Shamsul, Assistant Registrar Abdur Razzaq, official Hamida Khatun, Dining Manager Sohail Rana, House Tutor Moumita Akhtar and Assistant Professor Ishrat Jahan appeared to have grossly neglected their duties.
It said that Proctor Prof Shahadat Hossain showed indifference to his duties.
WHAT AUTHORITIES SAY
Contacted, the provost said he didn't neglect his duties.
Asked about showing indifference to his duties, Proctor Shahadat said, "No one from the hall authorities or students informed me about the incident. I only came to know about the incident on February 14 when Phulpori's father came to me to lodge a complaint."
Pro-VC Prof Mahbubur Rahman said they would abide by the directives of the HC.
"We will take steps according to our rules and regulations if anyone is found guilty," he said.
Meanwhile, Phulpori yesterday said she was considering filing a case against her torturers. She said she was waiting for the HC order on this matter.