A murder case has been filed against four students of Khulna University (KU) and 20-25 other unidentified people over the death of North Western University (NWU) student Md Azmul Hossain in Khulna.

Qutub Uddin, father of the victim, filed the case with Harintana Police Station around 10:00pm on Saturday, said its Officer-in-Charge Md Iqbal Hossain.

However, the names of the four KU students could not be known immediately.

According to the case statement, Azmul was beaten at a mess on Masjid Goli of Islamnagar Road, opposite the Khan Jahan Ali Hall of KU, after being accused of theft on Friday night. At one stage, he fell from the roof of the four-storey building.

He was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition around 1:30am on Saturday, where he died.

Police and local sources said Azmul, a first-year student of the English Department at NWU situated at Sonadanga, ate at the mess on Friday night without paying for the meal, which allegedly led to an altercation.

Several students of the mess and some locals later accused him of theft and allegedly beat him.

He was subsequently taken to the rooftop, where he was allegedly beaten further. His hair was also cut.

Azmul hailed from Bara Sholua village under Darshana Police Station in Chuadanga and lived in a rented mess in the Masjid Goli area near KU.

Azmul’s family also alleged that someone called them during the incident and demanded Tk 100,000. The phone was later found to be switched off. Police said they were investigating the allegation.

“We are investigating the incident and will take legal action against those found to be involved,” said OC Iqbal Hossain.

He said four KU students were named in the case, while another 20-25 unidentified people were also accused.