Battery-run rickshaw driver detained over death of female student at JU
During primary interrogation, Arju Mia said he does not operate a rickshaw and was not present at JU on the day of the accident
Jahangirnagar University authorities detained and handed over a battery-run rickshaw driver to police after a female student was killed by such a vehicle on 19 November.
Security officials detained Arju Mia, the suspected rickshaw driver, from the Gerua area beside the campus yesterday (24 November) and brought him to the Proctor's Office.
He was handed over to Ashulia police station after questioning at 2am today (25 November).
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"Tracking Arju's mobile, we found out that he was present at JU on the evening of 19 November. This is the main reason behind suspecting him," said Alok Kumar, sub-inspector of Ashulia Police Station and investigation officer of the case.
"He was out of the campus before and after the incident. He even tried to sell his rickshaw. His statement is inconsistent. We are taking him to the police station," Alok added.
The rickshaw driver was identified by pedestrian Naim and passengers of the rickshaw Abu Hayat and Nahid.
"I was heading towards the Library Building from Shaheed Minar when I heard the shouting. I brought the student to the hospital in critical condition. I have been able to identify the rickshaw driver to a great extent," Naim said.
Nahid, one of the passengers, said, "The rickshaw driver has changed the seat. He even coloured his rickshaw anew. Only the lights that were broken during the accident remained."
Contacted, the Proctor of the university, AKM Rashidul Hasan, said, "The rickshaw driver had pain in his left hand when we detained him. There are injury marks on the sides of his neck. Although he said the pain is 15 days old, we have ensured the injury is recent after consulting a doctor at the medical centre.
"We think the rickshaw driver has received the injury during the accident that killed our student," the proctor added.
During primary interrogation, Arju Mia said he does not operate a rickshaw and was not present at JU on the day of the accident.
"I have had pain in my hand since 15 days ago. I sold my rickshaw as it had battery problems," he said.
After inquiring Arju's statement, police found that he had sold his rickshaw to the owner of an auto parts shop at Tk75,000 yesterday.
Masud, owner of Masud Auto Parts from the Chayabithi area in Savar, mentioned 18 November as the date of the sale of the rickshaw, which police think has been done to avoid suspicion.
On 19 November, Afsana Karim Rachi, a first-year (Honours) student from the Marketing department, was critically injured after getting hit by a speeding battery-run rickshaw while crossing the road in front of the New Arts Building of the campus.
She was first taken to the university's medical centre, from where she was shifted to Savar's Enam Medical College Hospital. On-duty doctors at Enam Medical declared her dead.
