A Cox’s Bazar court on Monday handed down death sentence to former police officials Pradeep Kumar Das and Liakat Ali for the murder of Maj (retd) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan.
Pradeep was the officer-in-charge of Teknaf police station and Liakat was the inspector of Baharchhara Police Investigation Centre during the murder.
The court also sentenced life imprisonment to six more people, including three police personnel, and acquitted seven others, including three members of Armed Police Battalion, in the sensational murder case.
Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Ismail read out the summary of the 300-page verdict in presence of all the 15 accused in a packed courtroom while security was tightened in and around the court premises.
The accused were brought to the court from Cox's Bazar district jail around 2:00pm amid tight security.
Earlier in the morning, a human chain was formed in front of the court premises demanding that former OC Pradeep be served with the capital punishment.
Six people, who got life term, are — former sub-inspector Nanda Dulal Rakshit of Baharchhara Police Investigation Centre, former constables of Teknaf police station Sagar Deb and Rubel Sharma, and police informants – Nurul Amin, Nezam Uddin and Ayaz Uddin.
The court also fined Sagar and three police informants Tk 50,000, in default of which they would serve an additional six-month imprisonment.
The accused, who were acquitted in the case, are — former assistant sub-inspector of Teknaf police station Liton Mia, its constables Safanur Karim, Kamal Hossain and Abdullah Al Mamun, former APBn sub-inspector Md Shahjahan, and its constables Md Rajib and Md Abdullah.
Public Prosecutor Advocate Faridul Alam said they are happy over the verdict.
He said the court, in its observation, termed the death of Sinha as cool-headed murder and it was premeditated.
Pradeep committed crimes by implementing the murder, destroying evidence, and filing drug cases, the public prosecutor said, quoting the court observation.
Liakat committed a punishable offence by plotting to kill and shooting to death, it added.
Hearing the judgement, Pradeep remained silent, Liakat was restless while Nanda Dulal burst into tears on the dock.
In her immediate reaction, Sinha’s elder sister Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous said, “Our expectations have largely been met, but the satisfaction will come on the day when the verdict will be executed.”
Defence lawyer Mohiuddin Khan said they are not happy over the verdict and they would appeal against the sentences.
On January 12, the court set January 31 for the pronouncement of the judgement after both the prosecution and the defence concluded their arguments in the case.
On July 31, 2020, Sinha was shot dead at the Shamlapur APBn check-post under Baharchhara union in Teknaf of Cox's Bazar while returning to town after filming for a documentary.
On August 5, 2020, Sinha's sister, Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, filed a murder case with the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in Cox’s Bazar.
She accused former OC Pradeep and inspector Liakat along with seven other members of law enforcement agencies for their involvement in the killing.
Cox’s Bazar Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-15 was assigned to investigate the case.
On December 13 same year, RAB submitted a charge sheet against 15 people, including Pradeep, in connection with the murder.
Of the accused, 12 gave confessional statements before court except ex-OC Pradeep, constables Sagar Deb and Rubel Sharma.
On June 27, 2021, a Cox’s Bazar court framed charges against them.
