Former SP Allah Bakhsh ‘regrets’ giving legal advice to Pradeep

The former superintendent of police Allah Bakhsh has expressed regret over giving legal advice to former officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station Pradeep Kumar Das after the killing of Army major (retd) Sinha. 

"It was a very bad thing for me to do," Bakhsh said in a press release on Tuesday, which he issued in a bid to explain his position centring the incident.

After information of Pradeep talking on the phone with Bakhsh on August 1 came into light, it attracted widespread attention from the media and social network platforms. 

"Police officers on duty often ask for suggestions and advice from former police officers. On that day, the then Teknaf OC described the incident his way and asked for my advice," said Bakhsh, adding that he did not know the truth while providing legal advice to Pradeep. 

"I only gave him advice based on what he told me. I did not know what really happened," he added. 

Regarding his comment about the Army, Bakhsh said that his expression was not cynical in any way. 

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"It was only an unintentional slip of my tongue. I regret that. I did not, in any way, express any disregard about the Army intentionally," he said.

During a phone conversation after Sinha was shot to death, the former superintendent of police advised OC Pradeep to file a case under 304 Section, punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He further advised to file the case referring the whole statement of why the former army major was obstructed. 

"The case was filed after Sinha detained. The accused in this case has been sent to the hospital, in a bullet-riddled condition, where he was pronounced dead. As the man died, a case was filed subject to investigation," said Allah Bakhsh to the OC over phone.

Allah Bakhsh went into retirement from the police force around six years ago. He is currently the president of Chattogram section of Police Officer Welfare Samiti.

On the night of July 31, Army major (retd) Sinha was killed in police firing on Cox's Bazar's Marine Drive.