Murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu explained

Rape and Murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu refers to the gang rape and murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a Bangladeshi student, by unknown person(s).[1] [2]

History

Tonu was a 19-year-old student of Comilla Victoria College.[3] Her father was an employee of Comilla Cantonment board.[4] Her dead body was found on 20 March 2016 in Comilla Cantonment.[5] She had gone to study at a private tutors when she disappeared.[6]

Investigation

Tonu's father Lalu, also known as Kalu, filed a murder case with Kotwali Model Police Station in Comilla against persons unknown. The police transferred the case to Detective Branch.[7] The case was handed out to the Criminal Investigation Department on 1 April 2016. The first autopsy found no evidence of rape or murder, which was released on 4 April 2016.[8] The report created controversy. Bangladesh High Court ordered a second autopsy. The initial autopsy was conducted in Chittagong Medical College.[9] She was buried in Mirzapur, in Muradnagar Upazila, Comilla District.[10]

The second autopsy conducted in Comilla Medical College Hospital had found evidence of rape.[11] A DNA test conducted under the Criminal Investigation Department found evidence of rape through DNA testing in May 2016. Semen from three men was found in Tonu's underwear by the crime lab of CID.[12]

CID quizzed an army officer's son, Piyal, who allegedly had harassed her several times.[13] CID also interrogated two army personnel.[14]

Tonu's parents claimed that an army sergeant named Zahid and his wife were involved in the incident. However, no such persons were interrogated by the authorities.[15] [16]

Even after 4 years of investigation, authorities were unable to make any headway.[17] [18]

On October 21, 2020, the Criminal Investigation Department handed the case over to PBI.[19]

Protests

The murder created nationwide protests in Bangladesh and stated a social media movement.[20] [21] Protests took places in campuses all over Bangladesh and Bangladesh Students Union led protest to the Prime Ministers office.[22] [23]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Women train in self-defence in Dhaka for protection against sexual assaults. bdnews24.com . 28 February 2017.
  2. News: 'Pressure on Tonu's family to confess' . Prothom Alo . 28 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301182422/http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/99521/%E2%80%98Pressure-on-Tonu%E2%80%99s-family-to-confess%E2%80%99 . 1 March 2017 . dead .
  3. News: CID say Tonu was raped before murder. bdnews24.com . 28 February 2017.
  4. News: CID interrogates 5 over Tonu murder. Prothom Alo. 28 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180830/http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/101031/CID-interrogates-5-over-Tonu-murder. 1 March 2017. dead.
  5. News: Tonu murder: DNA test finds evidence of rape. The Daily Star . 28 February 2017. en. 16 May 2016.
  6. News: 4 more quizzed over Tonu murder. Prothom Alo. 28 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170301182419/http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/102259/4-more-quizzed-over-Tonu-murder. 1 March 2017. dead.
  7. News: No headway in Tonu murder probe in 10 months. The Daily Star . 28 February 2017. en. 20 January 2017.
  8. News: Seven months into Tonu murder: Family losing hope of getting justice. Dhaka Tribune . 28 February 2017. 24 October 2016.
  9. News: Tonu's parents want to meet PM over her murder case. bdnews24.com . 28 February 2017.
  10. News: Tonu murder: Demand for police investigation of a mystery number keeps growing. bdnews24.com . 28 February 2017.
  11. News: Tonu's 2nd autopsy finds evidence of 'sexual assault'. The Daily Star . 28 February 2017. en. 12 June 2016.
  12. News: DNA test finds rape evidence. Prothom Alo. 28 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170301182425/http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/104847/DNA-test-finds-rape-evidence-in-Tonu-s-body. 1 March 2017. dead.
  13. News: CID quizzes army officer's son over Tonu murder. 2020-12-01. bdnews24.com.
  14. News: 2016-04-08. 2 army men quizzed in Tonu murder case. 2020-12-01. Dhaka Tribune.
  15. News: Parents claim 2 Army men were involved in Tonu murder. 2020-12-01. bdnews24.com.
  16. News: 2016-05-11. Tonu's parents: Two army men involved. 2020-12-01. Dhaka Tribune.
  17. News: 4th death anniversary passes silently with no headway in probe. 2020-11-17 . New Age . en.
  18. News: 2020-03-21. 4 years of Tonu Murder: 'Everyone forgot my daughter, but how will I forget her'. 2020-11-17. Dhaka Tribune.
  19. News: 2020-11-17. Tonu Murder: CID hands over case to PBI. 2020-11-17. Dhaka Tribune.
  20. News: Don't forget Tonu. The Daily Star . Op-ed . 28 February 2017. en. 25 March 2016.
  21. News: Army helping in probe into Tonu murder. The Daily Star . 28 February 2017. en. 26 March 2016.
  22. News: Tonu killing: March to PMO stopped, strike called. The Daily Star . 28 February 2017. en. 31 March 2016.
  23. News: Protest continues demanding justice for Tonu. The Daily Star . 28 February 2017. en. 30 March 2016.