The Dhaka University committee investigating the death of Abubakar Siddique in a clash between two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League has identified 10 persons responsible for the incident and the DU Syndicate has decided to temporarily expel them from the university.

The committee submitted its probe report to DU Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique who then placed it before the syndicate yesterday. Sources said the probe committee has shown Sir AF Rahman Hall unit BCL President Saiduzzaman Faruk, and BCL activists Mansur Ahmed Rony and Abu Zafar Md Salam, among others, responsible for the violence that day.

Rony and Zafar are also former activists of latiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, a member of the probe committee told The Daily Star.

Abubakar Siddique, a third year student of Islamic history and culture, was killed during a violent clash between two BCL factions on February 2. At least 25 people, including seven policemen and a journalist, were injured in the incident.

DU authorities formed a nine-member probe committee at a syndicate meeting on February 6 convened by DU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Harun-or-Rashid. The committee was asked to submit its report within 15 working days. The deadline was extended by five days on February 23.

The committee gave a description of the incident and identified people responsible for it and the cause of Abubakar's death. In the process, it sought specialists' opinion, examined the post mortem report and talked with the Forensic and Neurosurgery Department of Dhaka Medical College, committee sources said. It held 14 meetings and visited the spot multiple times, interviewed more than 30 including the proctor, assistant proctors, provost, police, journalists, roommates, and students of the hall.

The report says that a blunt object hit Abubakar on the back of his head but the committee has not also ruled out the possibility of a teargas shell hitting him.

The syndicate has decided to temporarily expel 10 students who belong to BCL and issue show cause notices to them as to why they won't be expelled permanently, several syndicate members confirmed.

The syndicate will also urge the government to probe the role of police on that day.

Syndicate member Sadeka Halim, also a member of the probe committee, said the report will be made public as soon as the syndicate decides so.

She said the committee expressed its view that the tradition of politics centring hall seats should be stopped and changes should be brought in hall administration.

The DU authorities will brief journalists regarding the probe report today at 12:00noon at the VC's office.