OC Pradeep implicated in another murder
At the time of the incident in 2017, Pradeep was the OC of Moheshkhali Police Station
A murder case has been filed against 29 people, including suspended officer-in-charge (OC) of Teknaf Police Station Pradeep Kumar Das, in connection with the murder of Abdus Sattar in 2017 at Moheskhali in Cox's Bazar.
At the time of the incident, Pradeep was the OC of Moheshkhali Police Station. The High Court (HC) had then directed the Moheskhali Police Station to register the case.
Later, OC Pradeep did not file the murder case against himself even though the application for suspension of the case was rejected.
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On Wednesday, Hamida Akhter, 40, wife of victim Abdus Sattar- who was killed in the alleged crossfire in 2017- filed a complaint in the court of Moheshkhali Senior Judicial Magistrate Abbas Uddin to take cognisance of the old allegation.
Although the court heard the plaintiff's statement about the allegations, it did not issue any order (till filing the report at 6:30 pm on Wednesday), said the plaintiff's lawyer Md Shahidul Islam.
In line with former OC Pradeep, five other police members: Sub-Inspector (SI) Harunur Rashid, SI Imam Hossain, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Monirul Islam, ASI Shahedul Islam and ASI Azim Uddin, have been named as accused in the case.
Among the 29 accused, Ferdous (56), leader of the Ferdous Bahini in Moheshkhali, has been made the prime accused. He is the son of late Nurul Kabir of Hoanok in Moheshkhali.
The deceased was identified as Abdus Sattar of Hoanok, son of late Nuruchhafa of Purbo Majherpara village.
Hamida Akhter alleged that her husband Abdus Sattar was killed in a planned manner on February 14, 2017 at around 7am with the help of Ferdous Bahini in the Lambasia area of Hoanok union in Moheskhali upazila.
When she went to file a case over this murder, the police refused to take the case.
Later, she sought refuge in the HC. On the basis of Writ Petition No. 7793/17, the judge gave an order to "Treat for FIR."
The court sources said that the HC issued an order during the hearing of the writ petition filed by Hamida Akhter on June 7, 2017.
It said that if Hamida Akhter submits the complaints, the OC of Moheshkhali Police Station should accept that immediately.
An application was filed in the HC on behalf of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) seeking revocation of this order.
On the other part, an appeal was filed in the Appellate Division on behalf of the Home Secretary (Public Security Division) against the order of the HC.
On May 13, 2018, the Appellate Division issued an order after the hearing of the application.
In the new order, the earlier order of the HC to accept the statement without issuing a rule was cancelled. At the same time, the writ petition filed by Hamida Akhter was asked to be heard again as a case.
Meanwhile, Advocate Rashedul Haque Khokon, who had filed the writ petition in the HC at that time, said the HC had directed the filing of the case at the police station. But the HC later stayed the order based on the IGP's application to stay the order.
Shahidul Islam, lawyer of the plaintiff, said on Wednesday, "We have applied to the court to accept the murder charge as a case. The court has heard our comment and has also reviewed the documents of that time (2017)."
He went on to say, "The court did not issue any order for the case to be accepted or dismissed until Wednesday evening. The judge might give an instruction tomorrow (Thursday) to take our complaint as a case to ensure justice."
It is mentionable that on the night of July 31 this year, retired major Sinha Mohammad was shot dead in police firing at Baharchhara check post in Teknaf.
Police filed three separate cases over this incident. Two of the cases were filed under the Narcotics Act and for murder charges at Teknaf Police Station, and another one was filed under the Narcotics Act in Ramu Police Station.
Shahedul Islam Sifat and Shipra Rani Debnath, who were associates of slain major Sinha, were arrested and sent to jail in the cases.
Sinha's sister Sharmin Shahria Ferdous filed a murder case at Cox's Bazar Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court on August 5 against nine policemen including Inspector Liakat, OC Pradeep Kumar Das.
On August 6, six accused, including suspended OC Pradeep and Liakat, surrendered before the Cox's Bazar Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court.
The court granted 7-day remand for Inspector Liakat, OC Pradeep and SI Nanda Dulal Rakkhit against a 10-day remand plea filed by the RAB.
Since after his remand plea was granted, the parties affected by OC Pradeep in Teknaf and Moheshkhali have been suing him in court.
Among them, Hamida Akhter, the wife of Sattar who was killed in an alleged crossfire, is the first complainant.
