CoU students call police briefing on Aprotim murder a ‘farce’

Students of the University of Cumilla (CoU) staged a human chain on Monday, describing the police briefing on the murder of Ishayat Shahriar Aprotim, 13, as a “farce” and renewing their four-point demands for justice.

The programme was held at Shaheed Abdul Qayyum Chattar on the university campus around 11am. The students demanded the prompt identification and arrest of everyone involved in the killing, exemplary punishment and implementation of their previously announced four-point demands.

Their demands include ensuring punishment for everyone involved in Aprotim’s murder; withdrawing the Cumilla superintendent of police and the officers-in-charge of Adarsha Sadar and Sadar Dakshin police stations over alleged administrative failures; establishing a permanent police outpost on the CoU campus and visibly improving law and order; and forming an immediate response unit to quickly rescue missing people.

The students also chanted slogans including “We want justice”, “Break up and crush the juvenile gangs”, “People die in Cumilla, police get medals” and “My brother is in the grave, why are the killers free?”

Naim Bhuiyan, a student of the Pharmacy Department from the 2020-21 academic session, said the police briefing was scheduled for noon but was held at 2pm.

“There has also been no comment from the administration regarding our four-point demands. A report was published yesterday evening saying that a person named Anas had been detained, but today the superintendent of police denied it. Many aspects of the incident have also become unclear. We are calling for the implementation of our four-point demands.”

Nazmul, a student of the Bangla Department from the same academic session, said students learned that after Tuhin was arrested, he had named Anas and that Anas was later detained from Beltali.

“But at today’s press briefing, police said no one named Anas had been detained. If he was released, there was no explanation as to why he was released.”

He also questioned the information provided by police about the case.

“Everyone knows Aprotim had gone out with an iPhone. Even after taking 12 hours, police could not provide any visible new information. They have not released any statement or video regarding the confession allegedly obtained from Tuhin. They are only saying that the investigation will take more time. That is why we organised this programme.”

Police earlier said four people had been arrested in connection with Aprotim’s murder. According to police, investigators reviewed CCTV footage and found that Aprotim had gone with Tuhin to an isolated area of the Lalmai Hills in Sananda, after which Tuhin allegedly told investigators that he had planned to take the boy there to steal his iPhone.