Natore Murder
Asif sent to jail, Rajon produced to court
Police yesterday produced Abdul Awal Rajon, the prime accused in Natore college teacher Mizanur Rashid killing case, before a court seeking seven-day remand and sent the co-accused Mamunur Rashid Asif to jail on completion of his three-day remand.
The arrested murder suspect Rajon in primary police interrogation claimed innocence and maintained that he did not even know Mizanur.
“I didn’t intentionally run the motorcycle into him, it was an accident. I didn’t know the teacher, never saw him before, nor even I teased any girls,” Abdur Rahim, investigating officer (IO), quoted Rajon as saying before police.
“We need to further interrogate Rajon as we want to know whether any other person is behind the murder,” said Rahim replying to a question.
The court will hear the remand prayer on Sunday, informed the IO.
Earlier Asif also denied his involvement in the murder.
Police arrested Rajon from Chawkrampur in Natore town on his return from Dhaka Thursday evening.
Rajon and Asif ran their motorbike into Mizan, a chemistry teacher of Lokmanpur College, on October 12. Mizan succumbed to his injuries at BSMMU Hospital 12 days later.
Police officials and locals said district unit Awami League (AL) Vice-president Majedur Rahman Chand used Rajon as a muscleman.
Chand is also the principal of Tamaltala Agriculture College in Bagatipara, where Rajon is undergoing a diploma course and his father Mansur Rahman is serving as a clerk.
Stalking victims of Lokmanpur College and eyewitnesses said, Rajon and Asif used to tease college girls very often. Rajon threatened Mizan of teaching him a lesson as he (Mizan) warned him not to tease the girls.
Locals expressed happiness at Rajon’s arrest, adding he with his gang unleashed a reign of terror in the area.
Rajon was an FIR-named accused for murdering Shams-ud-Doha, a final year student of Tamaltala Agriculture College in March 2008.
Rafiqul Islam, plaintiff of the case, said local police submitted the final report in the case under the influence of Chand and some other persons. It is now, however, being re-investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), he added.
Aksed Ali, general secretary of Sadar union AL in Bagatipara, said Rajon was a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist during the BNP-Jamaat regime. He is now with AL joining hands with Chand.
Abul Hossain, the upazila AL president, said Chand’s activities are hampering the party’s image.
Talking to The Daily Star over phone, Chand refuted the allegations against him.
However, he categorically admitted that he advised Rajon’s father not to be perturbed as Rajon was fleeing home after the killing of Mizan.
“Question of lobbying for Rajon in Doha murder case does not arise, as the fact is that he was not involved in the murder,” he said.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid will visit the house of late teacher Mizanur Rashid on Monday, said an official release in Dhaka yesterday. The minister is coming here to console the bereaved family members.
