Comilla: Thousands of residents of Comilla staged demonstrations at Kandirpar Pubali Chattar in the city on Thursday demanding trial of the killers of Comilla Victoria College student Sohagi Jahan Tonu.

Witnesses said some 30,000 people, including students of Comilla Government College, Comilla Government Women’s College and different educational intuitions and members of various cultural organizations, formed a human chain centering Kandirpar Pubali Chattar at about 10:00am, blocking several roads leading to it.

As a result of the demonstration, vehicular movement in the city came to a halt for two hours. On information, additional police super Imtiaz Ahmed along with other police officials visited the spot and assured them of identifying the killers soon.

Sohagi Jahan Tonu, second year student of History Department of Comilla Victoria College and member of Victoria College Theatre, was found dead in a bush beside a culvert inside the Comilla Cantonment area on Sunday night. Her head was smashed, and she had allegedly been raped.  

Leaders of different political parties and members of cultural organizations expressed solidarity with the demonstrators.  

Talking to reporters, Victoria College theatre former president Al Amin said they will continue their movements until the killers are arrested. The victim Tonu was also known as a theatre activist.  

They will also light candles at Kandirpar in the evening, protesting the murder.

Later, the demonstrators submitted separate memorandums to Comilla Deputy Commissioner and police superintendent in this regard.

The victim’s father Year Hossain filed a case against some unidentified people with Kotwali Police Station on Monday.