Witnesses claim Sinha death a murder

Cox's Bazar resident Hamid Ullah said he saw the police firing in which former army officer Major (Retd) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan was shot and died later. Claiming the incident a murder, he said everything happened in just 30 minutes.

"I cannot close my eyes since Friday night as the horror haunts me," said Hamid Ullah.

The home ministry probe committee held a day-long meeting in Cox's Bazar on Tuesday. Head of the investigation team Chattogram Additional Divisional Commissioner Mizanur Rahman said, "We will submit our report within seven days."

Major (retired) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan got was shot in police firing on Cox's Bazar Marine drive on Friday night. He was rushed to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Recalling the night, Hamid Ullah said he was returning home that night when he saw police stopping the car.

"A man in army T-shirt got down from the car, put his hands up after being signalled to stop. Then the police fired without any warning," he recalled.

"The man fell down after being shot. Police then pressed his throat with their boots as he was groaning in pain," the witness recalled.

"After 15-20 minutes of the firing, Teknaf police OC turned up at the scene. The OC also checked the injured man and then he was taken to the side of the road. All this happened in only half an hour," Hamid Ullah said.

"When I close my eyes, the scenes reappear before my eyes," he added.    

Liakat Ali, an auto-rickshaw driver, stopped his vehicle with two passengers 10-15 feet away from the police checkpoint. "After being signalled by the police, the car stopped and a man got down raising hands above his head. As he was shot, I fled from the scene in fear," he said.  

Nurul Amin, a third witness and an imam of a local mosque, said, "I went to the mosque rooftop after night prayer. I saw police stopping the Cox's Bazar-bound car and all of a sudden shot the youth."      

Two people were arrested and Sinha's licensed firearm was seized. Police filed two cases and withdrew its 21 members from Baharchhara outpost after the incident.

As Sinha has died, his fellow traveller Sifat – who is in police custody – has been made the lone accused in the police case. 

Police in the case statement also said they seized 50 yaba pills, marijuana and two bottles of foreign liquor from the vehicle.

Family members of the deceased claimed that the firing was not any stray incident, rather it was a murder.

In an interview with a private television channel, the family also alleged that police hid the news of the death of the retired major while asking information about him from his mother.

Mother of the deceased Nasima Akter told the press that the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Teknaf Police Station called her and asked about Sinha. The OC questioned her about Sinha's profession and educational background. 

The mother in the interview sought a neutral probe over the incident and demanded justice.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called the deceased's mother Tuesday afternoon and condoled her over the death.

The premier assured the family about proper investigation, justice and financial help if needed.