Four police officials were removed from duty on Wednesday after suspended Teknaf police station officer-in-charge Pradeep Kumar Das, the prime accused of the Sinha murder case, was found using a mobile phone at the court dock.
Cox's Bazar Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Hasanuzzaman confirmed the matter.
Four policemen, including STI Shahab Uddin, had been withdrawn and attached to the police lines, he said, adding that an investigation committee will be formed over this.
Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Judge's Court also warned Pradeep over the incident.
He was warned as the third day of recording statements of the witnesses in the Maj (retd) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan murder case trial began on Wednesday morning.
All the 15 accused in the case, including Pradeep Kumar, were presented before the court during the trial at 9:30am on the day.
Images and a video clip on Tuesday went viral on social media Tuesday showing Pradeep talking on a mobile phone while standing at the dock with 14 other accused. Plaintiff Sharmin Shahria Ferdous, Sinha's sister, was testifying in the court at that time.
Public Prosecutor (PP) Faridul Alam brought the matter to the notice of the court Wednesday morning after the accused were produced before the court, claiming it was illegal for ex-OC Pradeep to speak on a phone while standing in the dock during the trial.
Earlier, on Tuesday, the second day of recording statements of the witnesses, the second witness Sifat gave a testimonial statement before the Cox’s Bazar court.
The statement recording of the second witness started in the afternoon after plaintiff Sharmin Shahria’s statement was cross-questioned by three defence lawyers including the lawyers of accused suspended OC Pradeep and Inspector Liakat Ali.
The court was then adjourned at 8:00pm and Wednesday was fixed for continuing recording statement of Sifat and cross-questioning him by defence lawyers.
So far, 15 out of 83 witnesses in the case, including the plaintiff, have been summoned to testify in these three days.
On July 31 last year, Sinha was shot dead at the Shamlapur police check-post in Baharchhara Union of Cox's Bazar while returning to town after filming for a documentary.
On August 5, Sinha's sister, Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, filed a case with Teknaf Senior Judicial Magistrate Court accusing nine members of law enforcement agencies of being involved in the killing, including Pradeep Kumar Das and Baharchhara police outpost inspector Liakat Ali.
On December 13, 2020, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) submitted a charge sheet against 15 people, including police source Ayaz and three APBn members, in connection with the case filed over Sinha's murder at a checkpost manned by APBn, where officers of the Teknaf police station intercepted Sinha's car.
All of the 15 accused of the charge sheet are currently in jail. Of them, 12 have given confessional statements before the court except for OC Pradeep Kumar Das, constable Sagar Dev and Rubel Sharma.
Other accused of the case are — Inspector of Baharchara Police outpost Liakat Ali, sub-inspectors Nandolal Rakkhit and Tutul, assistant sub-inspector Liton Mia; constables Shafanur Karim, Kamal Hossain, Abdullah AL Mamun, Md Rajib and Md Abdullah, ASI of APBN Md Shahjahan and Nurul Amin, Md Nizamuddin and Ayaz Uddin.
