One month of Sinha murder, probe ‘almost done’

After one month of the killing of retired army major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan on the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive on July 31 night, investigators have said they are approaching the completion of the probe.

In the last few days, two prime accused in the murder case, suspended Baharchhara police investigation centre in-charge Liakat Ali and sub-inspector Nanda Dulal Raxit, and three other accused, APBn sub-inspector Shajahan and constables Rajib and Abdullah, gave confessional statements to the court.

Now, the investigating agency is waiting for the confessional statement of another prime accused – suspended officer-in-charge (OC) Teknaf Police Station, Pradeep Kumar Das.

On Monday, a Cox's Bazar court again sent Pradeep on a one-day fresh remand after he had been produced before the court after the previous 11-day remand in two phases.

Liakat first gave a confessional statement in the murder case under Section 164 on Sunday.

He agreed to give a confessional statement a day after being put on a three-day remand in the third phase on Friday, said Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohammad Khairul Islam, also an investigating officer.

Liakat was sent to jail after his confessional statement had been recorded, he added.

Later on Monday, another prime accused sub-inspector Nanda Dulal gave his confessional statement in the murder case.

Currently, two investigations are underway into the killing – one by a high-level committee comprising the home ministry and another by the Rapid Action Battalion.

Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Chattogram additional divisional commissioner and head of the home ministry's probe body, on Sunday said suspended OC Pradeep was closely involved in the murder of Sinha.

The probe committee has taken statements of 67 people thus far in connection with the case. Majority of them revealed that Pradeep was closely involved in the murder, he said.

"The issue of Pradeep's involvement came up in various statements during the investigation. Therefore, the investigation report will be submitted after analysing the data provided by him [Pradeep]," Mizanur Rahman said after an emergency meeting of the probe committee.

The term of the probe committee ended on Monday, and the committee submitted an application to the home ministry seeking an extension to its term as per the decision made at the meeting, said Mizanur Rahman.

"We hope we will be able to take Pradeep's statement on September 1 or the day after," he added.

"The investigation is almost done. We are waiting for Pradeep's statement. We appealed to the court two times to record his statement. However, the court said his statement will be taken after the remand is complete."

Major (retd) Sinha was shot dead by Liakat at Shamlapur APBn check-post on the Marine Drive in Baharchhara Union of Teknaf upazila around 9:30pm on July 31. Cox's Bazar has been eventful in the past one month centering this murder.