RU faces rising crimes

Negligence of authorities blamed

With the recent abduction of a Rajshahi university (RU) student, teachers, students and officials are living in a state of fear, as incidents of mugging, duping and abduction have peaked at the university in the last few months.

University students and teachers faced around 15 untoward incidents in the last 25 days. University students and teachers blame the RU authorities, alleging their laxity was responsible for the rise in crimes.

The abduction victim was identified as Al Faruk, a first-year student in the Islamic history and culture department and a resident of Thakurgaon district.

Faruk was allegedly tortured in Room No. 191 of the Shaheed Suhrawardy Hall. He was freed by ‘BCL men’ after the payment of ransom from Shaheed Suhrawardy Hall on November 9.

Assistant secretary of the BCL, Shafiur Rahman Shafi and a fourth-year student of Islamic history and culture, Naeem Islam, admitted their involvement in the incident after being grilled by BCL president Golam Kibria and general secretary Faisal Ahmed Runu.

A group of BCL leaders are said to be involved in criminal activities such as drugs business, abduction and theft.

Muggers are generally active in badly lit secluded places where they can hide in the dark. A mango orchard, behind the Third Science Building, Tuth Bagan, Parish Road, Iblish field, Habibur Rahman Hall ground, the mass graveyard area, the medical centre, fine arts faculty, agriculture faculty road, university graveyard, Kazla gate and main gate areas are the most unsafe places where muggers abound.

Police seem to have no data on the number of mugging incidents but university officials say holidays and evenings were the times when muggers were on the prowl.

Students say muggers target mobiles, wallets and money. They say as the incidents of mugging, abduction and cheating have increased and the university authorities have failed to provide security, they prefer to return to their halls before sunset.

A female student of Begum Rukeya hall said a group of young men called her and her boyfriend when they were leaving the campus in the evening a few days back through the Iblish Chattar.

“One of them gagged us from behind, two held our hands tightly, and another put a knife on our throats. They threatened to kill us if we screamed. Then, they looted our money bag, mobile phone and purse,” she said

“Like us, many students and teachers faced several incidents on the campus but no step has seen taken by the university,” she alleged.

On November 4, two thieves were arrested from the Zuberi Bhaban area. Tasfiq Al Touhid, a third-year student of the Arabic department was mugged by the detainees.

Besides, Sohel Rana, an employee of the Steward Section, was mugged at Dhorompor, a place next to RU. He was severely injured by his attackers. The local people rescued him and rushed him to the Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital.

On October 26, at least five students were mugged on the Shaheed Habibur Rahman playground.

Two admission-seekers were also mugged at the university stadium market area on October 22, while four admission-seekers had their belongings snatched at the university’s Kazla Gate and Binodpur gate areas on October 21.

On 14 October, a political science department student became the victim of a terrible snatching incident at Parish Road, while on October 23 three students were mugged in front of the university medical centre.

The university students blame the “indifference” of the university authorities for this growing social menace.

Suhanur Rahman Sumon, a second-year student of the law department said most of the students stayed away from the campus but faced attacks while entering the university area.

 

Last Sunday night, some students caught a youth from Zuberi Bhaban of the university while he along with his four accomplices tried to snatch the mobile phone and purse of a RU student and handed him over to police.

OC of Motihar Police Station Shahadat Hossain Khan said that a case had been filed against the detainee identified as Abdullah on Sunday night and he had been sent to jail.

Like him, around 10–15 syndicates consist of local muggers and RU BCL men are active on the campus.

Ariful Islam, professor of the philosophy department, said that the incidents of snatching and abduction had become a real cause for worry and felt that negligence on the part of the university authorities and law enforcers was aggravating the situation.

 He suggested the setting up of CCTV cameras and adequate lighting in the vulnerable spots on the campus. RU proctor Lutfor Rahman admitted that incident of crime had increased recently and they were trying to take preventive measures.

“CCTV and lighting will be installed on the campus. Law enforcing agencies will monitor the campus regularly to tighten security. The entry of outsiders into the campus will be restricted,” he added.

 

RU faces rising crimes

Negligence of authorities blamed

With the recent abduction of a Rajshahi university (RU) student, teachers, students and officials are living in a state of fear, as incidents of mugging, duping and abduction have peaked at the university in the last few months. University students and teachers faced around 15 untoward incidents in the last 25 days. University students and teachers blame the RU authorities, alleging their laxity was responsible for the rise in crimes. The abduction victim was identified as Al Faruk, a first-year student in the Islamic history and culture department and a resident of Thakurgaon district. Faruk was allegedly tortured in Room No. 191 of the Shaheed Suhrawardy Hall. He was freed by BCL men after the payment of ransom from Shaheed Suhrawardy Hall on November 9. Assistant secretary of the BCL, Shafiur Rahman Shafi and a fourth-year student of Islamic history and culture, Naeem Islam, admitted their involvement in the incident after being grilled by BCL president Golam Kibria and general secretary Faisal Ahmed Runu. A group of BCL leaders are said to be involved in criminal activities such as drugs business, abduction and theft. Muggers are generally active in badly lit secluded places where they can hide in the dark. A mango orchard, behind the Third Science Building, Tuth Bagan, Parish Road, Iblish field, Habibur Rahman Hall ground, the mass graveyard area, the medical centre, fine arts faculty, agriculture faculty road, university graveyard, Kazla gate and main gate areas are the most unsafe places where muggers abound. Police seem to have no data on the number of mugging incidents but university officials say holidays and evenings were the times when muggers were on the prowl. Students say muggers target mobiles, wallets and money. They say as the incidents of mugging, abduction and cheating have increased and the university authorities have failed to provide security, they prefer to return to their halls before sunset. A female student of Begum Rukeya hall said a group of young men called her and her boyfriend when they were leaving the campus in the evening a few days back through the Iblish Chattar. One of them gagged us from behind, two held our hands tightly, and another put a knife on our throats. They threatened to kill us if we screamed. Then, they looted our money bag, mobile phone and purse, she said Like us, many students and teachers faced several incidents on the campus but no step has seen taken by the university, she alleged. On November 4, two thieves were arrested from the Zuberi Bhaban area. Tasfiq Al Touhid, a third-year student of the Arabic department was mugged by the detainees. Besides, Sohel Rana, an employee of the Steward Section, was mugged at Dhorompor, a place next to RU. He was severely injured by his attackers. The local people rescued him and rushed him to the Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital. On October 26, at least five students were mugged on the Shaheed Habibur Rahman playground. Two admission-seekers were also mugged at the university stadium market area on October 22, while four admission-seekers had their belongings snatched at the universitys Kazla Gate and Binodpur gate areas on October 21. On 14 October, a political science department student became the victim of a terrible snatching incident at Parish Road, while on October 23 three students were mugged in front of the university medical centre. The university students blame the indifference of the university authorities for this growing social menace. Suhanur Rahman Sumon, a second-year student of the law department said most of the students stayed away from the campus but faced attacks while entering the university area. Last Sunday night, some students caught a youth from Zuberi Bhaban of the university while he along with his four accomplices tried to snatch the mobile phone and purse of a RU student and handed him over to police. OC of Motihar Police Station Shahadat Hossain Khan said that a case had been filed against the detainee identified as Abdullah on Sunday night and he had been sent to jail. Like him, around 1015 syndicates consist of local muggers and RU BCL men are active on the campus. Ariful Islam, professor of the philosophy department, said that the incidents of snatching and abduction had become a real cause for worry and felt that negligence on the part of the university authorities and law enforcers was aggravating the situation. He suggested the setting up of CCTV cameras and adequate lighting in the vulnerable spots on the campus. RU proctor Lutfor Rahman admitted that incident of crime had increased recently and they were trying to take preventive measures. CCTV and lighting will be installed on the campus. Law enforcing agencies will monitor the campus regularly to tighten security. The entry of outsiders into the campus will be restricted, he added.