Bangladesh: Mob lynches student for criticizing state

DHAKA, Bangladesh

Police in Bangladesh arrested nine students for their involvement in a brutal murder of their fellow student in a university dormitory early Monday.

Police detained the students in the capital Dhaka after examining CCTV footage and an autopsy report which stated Abrar Fahad, 21, died of internal bleeding, an investigating officer told reporters in a briefing.

The deceased, a sophomore at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, was taken to the dorm on Sunday night by students belonging to the Chhatra League, a student-wing of the ruling Awami League party, local Daily Star reported.

He was beaten to death for being an alleged Islamist and criticizing the government on social media for signing multiple deals with India, whose growing role in daily governance of the nation is viewed with suspicion by some citizens, the report added.

Meanwhile, protests spread on university campuses in and out of the capital Dhaka seeking justice for the deceased student.

The ruling party has vowed to take the culprits to account.

The victim's family has filed a case against 19 students for the alleged killing.