HC forms three-member probe committee

The High Court on Tuesday formed a three-member inquiry committee to probe into the incident of the gang-rape of a woman at Murari Chand (MC) College in Sylhet on last Friday.
Committee comprising Judge of the Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Domon Tribunal in Sylhet, chief metropolitan magistrate of Sylhet and additional deputy commissioner (general) of Sylhet have been directed to probe into the incident by taking depositions from the victim, principal, hostel superintendent, concerned persons and informants who witnessed the incident.
The committee has been asked to submit a report in the High Court about the inquiry within 15 days.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order as a suo moto move after a Supreme Court lawyer, Muhammad Misbah Uddin, brought some news reports regarding the issue to the attention of the court.
Sylhet metropolitan police commissioner has been directed to give adequate security to the inquiry committee, and deputy commissioner of Sylhet has been directed to provide all logistic support to the inquiry committee during the investigation.
The court asked the probe committee to send the report to the registrar general of the Supreme Court.
Registrar of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court has been directed to send the order of the court to the inquiry committee by today (Wednesday) without any fail.
The court also issued a rule upon the respondents to show cause as to why they should not be directed to take appropriate legal steps against the principal and hostel superintendent of MC college as they were found to have neglected to save an innocent woman from the rapists in their campus and as they kept silent so long allowing non-student persons in their campus.
Education secretary, law secretary, home secretary, vice chancellor of National University, registrar of National University, principal of MC college, DC and metropolitan police commissioner of Sylhet, and hostel superintendent of MC college have been asked to comply with the rule within two weeks.
The court fixed October 18 to pass further order over the issue.
On the night of September 25, a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists -- comprising both current and former students of the college -- raped a woman after tying up her husband.
Later that night, the victim's husband filed a case accusing six named and two to three unnamed. So far, police have detained seven persons, including four named in the case.
Meanwhile, the education ministry on Tuesday also formed a three-member investigation committee to probe into the negligence of the college authorities regarding the incident.

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