Rangpur Attack: Tito Roy gets 7-member lawyers’ panel

A seven-member lawyers’ panel has been formed to defend Tito Chandra Roy in court, following a storm of criticism from Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the social media. The panel is comprised of senior lawyers such as Indrajit Sarkar and Komol Majumder, Trustee for Rangpur Division unit of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, Advocate Rathis Chandra Bhoumik Babu Sona told the Dhaka Tribune on Monday. The panel is scheduled to participate in the hearing on Tuesday, as the remand period of Tito will end on the same day (November 21). Tito did not receive any legal counsel since his arrest in Nilphamari on November 14 on charges of posting a Facebook status defaming Prophet Muhammad, which is said to have triggered the communal attack in Rangpur’s Thakurpara village. Tito was taken on remand in two phases, for four days each without any lawyer defending him in the court. According to Tito’s relatives, he never had a Facebook account named “Md Tito” from which the controversial status was posted. His mother and brother also claimed that he is illiterate. A hail of criticism from social media platforms hit the authorities concerned, as it was revealed that Tito did not have lawyer to defend him in the case. Facing uproar, the seven-member lawyers’ panel was formed. Addressing the issue, Rangpur Bar Association General Secretary and Public Prosecutor Abdul Malek said there were no regulations barring Tito from getting a lawyer. “The Rangpur Bar Association should not be held responsible for the failure of Tito’s relatives to get a lawyer,” he added. Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Advocate Rathis Chandra Bhoumik said representatives from Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Puja Udjapan Committee, Sommilito Sangskritik Jote and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust earlier visited Advocate Indrajit Sarkar had requested that the panel be formed to defend Tito in court. More than 30 homes belonging to Hindu families in Thakurpara Village were ransacked and looted before being set on fire by a mob over the rumoured Facebook post on November 10. A man was killed in police firing when the law enforcers intervened.