2 RU teachers freed, 11 others jailed for torching DGFI car

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Acquitting two Rajshahi University (RU) teachers and its one PR officer of the charge of torching a DGFI vehicle, a Rajshahi court Wednesday handed down three years rigorous imprisonment (RI) to 11 other accused persons, reports UNB.
The convicts are - driver of a former RU vice-chancellor Ataur Rahman Ata, RU Chhatra League secretary Ayenuddin, Dipayan Sarker, Hafiz Uddin Kamal, Shakhawat Hossain, Kazi Abdul Latif, Shamim Ahmed, Abu Sayem, Fakrul Islam, Sarker Ayej and Mizanur Rahman Mithu.
Of the convicts, only driver Ata was in the dock to receive the prison sentence, pronounced by the speedy trial court. The rest were tried in absentia, as they are on the run.
"Ata's kinsmen, present in the crowded court, broke down into tears hearing the verdict," said a spot report.
After examining records and witnesses, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ruhul Amin sentenced the 11 to three years RI under sections 3(4) and 8(2) of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) 2007.
The court also fined them Tk 5,000 each, in default, to serve three months more in jail.
Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan Sajal and Dr Golam Sabbir Sattar Tapu, both teachers of Geology and Mining Department, and Deputy Chief Information Officer of RU Public Relations Office Sadikul Islam were exonerated from the charge of the arson attack and violation of the EPR.
They were released Monday after President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed approved their mercy petition, amid strong pleas from different quarters, including teachers and students, for setting them free.
Earlier, four teachers of the university were jailed for two years on December 4 in connection with the violence, which flared up in a backlash against the Dhaka University (DU) incident and clashes.
On August 22, a vehicle of the military intelligence outfit DGFI was torched in front of the Vice-Chancellor's residence amid violence on the RU campus following the DU's August 20 student unrest.
DGFI assistant director Shawkat Ali filed the case against 14 persons with Motihar police station on August 23. The plaintiff alleged that a group of unruly students and people assaulted him while he was on duty on the campus on August 22.