Former officer-in-charge of Teknaf police station Pradeep Kumar Das orchestrated the premeditated murder of retired army major Sinha Md Rashed Khan on the night of July 31.
“Sinha was first threatened and later murdered for wanting to interview Pradeep over his alleged involvement in the rampant drug trafficking in Cox’s Bazar,” said Lt Col Ashiq Billah, director of RAB's legal and media wing.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) made the sensational revelation at a press conference held at its media centre in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Sunday afternoon after pressing charges against 15 people including Pradeep in the Sinha murder case earlier in the day.
Md Khairul Islam, assistant superintendent of police and also the case investigation officer, submitted the charge sheet to the Cox's Bazar Senior Judicial Magistrate Court, confirmed Public Prosecutor Faridul Alam.
The 15 accused include, nine sacked policemen from Teknaf police station, three sacked APBn personnel and three civilians. All except one, a constable who still remains a fugitive, are currently behind bars, reports our Cox’s Bazar correspondent Abdul Aziz.
“The case investigating officer, taking witness testimonies, evidence, and the statements of accused, into consideration, arrived at the conclusion that Sinha’s death was premeditated murder,” Ashiq Billah also said at Sunday’s press conference.
“Pradeep Kumar Das, the then OC of Teknaf police station masterminded the murder and played an instrumental role in attempting to cover it up.”
“The other accused Liakat Ali, Nurul Amin, and police sources Md Ayaz and Md Nizamuddin directly assisted Pradeep in his conspiracy. Moreover, three APBm murders and other policemen from Teknaf police station aided and abetted the murder,” added the RAB spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the same day, Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Judge Md Ismail rejected the revision petition challenging the case validity, filed by the defence earlier in October.
The judge dismissed the petition as it did not appear admissible following a hearing on Sunday, confirmed plaintiff lawyer Md Jahangir.
Dissatisfied, key accused Liakat Ali’s lawyer Masud Salahuddin said they will take matters to the High Court.
On August 5, Sinha's sister Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous had filed the case against nine policemen in connection with the murder.
RAB had interrogated a total of 14 people shown arrested between August and September over their suspected involvement in the murder. Among them, 12 -- except Pradeep and Rubel Sharma -- had confessed in court.
On the night of July 31, Sinha was shot dead by police at the Shamlapur check post on Marine Drive in Teknaf's Baharchhara area.
