RU students block Dhaka-Rajshahi highway

Students of the Rajshahi University (RU) blockaded the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in Rajshahi city for half an hour demanding the arrest of the three-wheeler drivers who beat up three RU students last night.

Due the blockade, vehicular movement on the highway was halted, reports our Rajshahi University correspondent.

Over 500 hundred students put barricades in front of RU’s main gate around 12:00pm, said Rafiqul Islam, a student of sociology department of the university.

Later, the proctor of the university rushed to the spot and assured the students that he will talk with the police to arrest those drivers.

Seven to eight drivers of battery-run auto-rickshaws beat three students - Chanchal Kumar, Yakub Ali and Liton, Masters students of Mathematics department last night.

According to police, the three students hired an auto-rickshaw to go to the university from Rajshahi railway station around 11:30pm yesterday.

When the driver, Munna reached Talaimari area of the city, he denied going to the university, said Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Matihar Police Station.

Furious, Chanchal, Yakub, and Liton got into an altercation. During the incident, another seven to eight drivers gathered and beat the students mercilessly, OC Humayun said.

The three are now receiving treatment at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital.