Immediate arrest, speedy trial of Tonu's killers demanded

Students and socio-cultural activists at a human chain in Comilla yesterday demanded immediate arrest and speedy trial of the killers of Victoria College student Sohagi Jahan Tonu.

They also urged the authorities to immediately test DNA samples of suspected people.

Tonu's brother Anwar Hossain Rubel alleged that their parents were instructed not to talk with media about the incident.

"How long parents who lost their daughter in such a way could live like this?" he said.

Speaking at the human chain on Circuit House Road in the morning, Comilla Gonojagoron Mancha spokesperson Khairul Anam Raihan said the authorities should bring the culprits to book immediately.

Gonojagoron Mancha activist Abul Kashem urged the Mainamati Cantonment authorities to help investigators in identifying the three persons whose DNA were found in Tonu's body.

Tonu, also a theatre activist, was found murdered in a bush in Mainamati Cantonment area on March 20.

The gruesome incident sparked storms of protests across the country.

On May 16, CID officials said DNA tests revealed that Tonu was raped before being murdered.

The tests found presence of sperm of three males on her clothing, exposing the flaws of the first autopsy that did not find evidence of rape and failed to determine the cause of death.

A second autopsy also could not determine how the young theatre activist died. It did not suggest rape and only found evidence of "sexual intercourse" before her murder.

Marking three months of the killing, a human chain will be formed at Comilla's Pubali Chattar on June 20.