Stoning Preeti to death: 1 held, body formed

CHITTAGONG, Aug 12: A case was filed on Monday in connection with the killing of running train passenger Engineer Preeti Das, 24 by throwing stone from outside in Chittagong.  

Police also arrested one person for his alleged involvement in the incident.

Besides, Bangladesh Railway has formed a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the killing of Preeti Das, said Tafazzal Hossain, General Manager (Eastern Zone) of Bangladesh Railway.
The committee has been asked to submit report within the next seven days.

Bangladesh Railway police super (Eastern Zone) Md Nazrul Islam said one Md Rubel was arrested for his alleged involvement in throwing stones. The 20-year-old suspect is now being questioned. A case was filed with the police station concerned.

He said Preeti Das` body was handed over without the postmortem at the request of her family.

The doctor concerned gave certificate earlier stating that she received injuries on head. So, it will not have any impact on the case.

It may be mentioned that Preeti Das was killed when a stone thrown by someone hit her from outside on a running train at Bhatiari area under Sitakunda upazila in Chittagong Saturday night.

Preeti Das was going to Dhaka along with her husband from Chittagong boarding the train.  The incident happened at about 11.30 on Saturday night.

Sub-Inspector Omar Faruque, duty officer of Chittagong Railway Police Station, said, "Someone threw stone in the darkness of night. The stone hit the head of the woman and she died receiving head injured. An unnatural death case was lodged in this regard."

It was learnt that Preeti Das, her husband Mintu Das, his friend Judicial Administration Training Institute assistant director Abdullah Al Mamun and another friend boarded on `Turna Nishitha` train from Chittagong Railway Station at about 11pm.

They seated on Seat Numbers 37, 38, 39 and 40 of the `Dha` compartment of the train. Preeti Das seated on the Seat No. 40 adjacent to a window.

Abdullah Al Mamun said the train was moving somewhat slowly. When the train reached at Bhanga Bridge area in Bhatiari, stones started to coming towards the speeding train. A stone hit the head of Preeti Das coming through the window. Instantly blood started coming out profusely from her head injuries which soaked her whole body.

At that time, the train was stopped and Preeti Das, her husband and two friends were dropped at Sitakunda Station. Critically injured Preeti Das was first taken to the local Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex. As her condition deteriorated, she was rushed to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital where doctors pronounced her dead.

 Without the postmortem, the body was later taken to her village home at Jamtola Bazar under Anwara upazila in Chittagong at the consent of her husband, where she was cremated.

Abdullah Al-Mamun said Preeti Das was doing M.Phill degree at private Northern University completing graduation from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology on Civil Engineering. Her husband Mintu Das works as senior officer at Dutch Bangla Bank Ltd`s head office in Dhaka.

They were leaving Chittagong on Saturday night to join work place on Sunday after the Eid vacation.