Murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu

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

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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

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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.[3] 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.[5] 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

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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

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References

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