HYDERABAD, Feb 28: An uncle of Majid Rajput, a student of the Sindh Agriculture University, who was recently murdered, has appealed to the authorities to order an inquiry by three judges of the Sindh High Court to ascertain the cause of his death and ensure that ‘extortionist mafia’ is expelled from the university.
Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Wednesday, Mohammad Shahid Rajput said that with the beginning of new classes at the university 15 days ago, the extortionists, patronised by the university administration, had unleashed terror among the students, especially the new entrants.
He said that his relative Waqas, a first year student, was also made a target. Mr Rajput said that on February 20, when Waqas came out of the classroom, he was severely beaten by the extortionists. He said that later when Mr Majid and Mr Waqas were going to Tandojam town, 30 to 35 extortionists, armed with iron rods, sticks and iron chains, attacked them.
He said that Mr Majid became unconscious and fell on the ground but the attackers continued to beat him as a result he received serious injuries and later died on February 24.
He said that security in-charge of the university, Ahmed Khan Mangi, with his force was present there but he did not intervene and helped the assailants to escape. He alleged that Mr Mangi not only knew the assailants but was also a partner in extortion money.
Mr Rajput said that the university administration remained silent over the matter and when he sought a meeting with the vice-chancellor, he was referred to the registrar.
He claimed that an accused, Shahnawaz Bhutto, was arrested by police with their help whereas no other arrests had so far been made. He said that on February 20, police had arrested some assailants and extortionists but they were let off on the intervention of Mr Mangi.
He alleged that to cover up the whole matter, the university was ransacked by the ‘university employees.’ He alleged that the police had adopted a partisan attitude and expressed no-confidence in the investigation.
SENATE: Meanwhile, the university senate, at a meeting held on Wednesday, adopted a resolution on the attack on the institute, passed by the syndicate on February 26.
It condemned the attack, demanded judicial inquiry and expressed displeasure over the negligence on the part of the district administration and police.