Joy Das quits cobbler job, returns to school

Joy Das,14, has quit his cobbler job and returned to the Government Model High School in Taraganj of Rangpur.

After his father Ruplal Das was killed in a mob lynching on charges of theft, ninth-grade student Joy started working as a cobbler in the local market. When the media reported about it, many people stood by the family. With this help, Joy started classes again from Sunday.

Joy told reporters that he goes to school regularly and all the teachers and classmates are encouraging and helping him. But he cannot forget the pain of losing his father.

He said that after completing his studies, he wants to become a lawyer.

On the night of August 9, Ruplal Das and his nephew-in-law Pradeep Lal Das were killed in a mob lynching in Burirhat Battala of Taraganj, while they were returning home in a rickshaw-van. They were killed on suspicion of being thieves.

The next day, Ruplal's wife filed a case accusing 700 unknown people. Police have arrested six people after watching the video footage, while the rest are absconding.

Ruplal used to work as a cobbler on the sidewalks of Taraganj Bazar. After his death, his only son Joy took up the same profession to take care of the family. His family consists of his grandmother, mother and two sisters.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rubel Rana said that the family has received government and private assistance. The process of getting a job and a shop in the market for Ruplal's eldest daughter Nupur is underway. It has been ensured that the education of Ruplal's children is not disrupted.