Sagar-Runi murder case
No headway in investigation
Neither the Rapid Action Battalion, nor the detective branch of police is yet to make any headway in the investigation into the murder of journalist couple Sagar and Runi even after passage of more than four months.
Since the murder, the RAB and other investigating agencies, however, have been claiming that they could arrest the suspected
killers anytime but as of today they failed to track down the killers.
As none of the investigators could make any substantial progress in the investigation, the family members of the victims have voiced ‘deep frustration’ while journalists community have been holding peaceful demonstration demanding the arrest of the suspected killers.
Maasranga Television news editor Sagar Sarowar and his wife ATN Bangla reporter Meherun Runi were stabbed to death in their rented house at Paschim Razabazar in the capital on February 11.
After visiting the crime scene, the home minister, Sahara Khatun, had told the reporters that the law enforcers were ordered to find out the killers within 48 hours and arrest them.
Just as the 48-hour timeframe ended, inspector general of police Hassan Mahmood Khandakar had claimed ‘substantial progress’ in the investigation into killing and assured of giving positive news by anytime.
Amid speculation of arrest and detention, the detective branch official Monirul Islam, also the Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesperson, on February 16 told the media ‘some suspects are under their close watch.’
On February 28, the High Court asked the home secretary and the police to explain why they should not be directed to find out the motive for the killing of the journalist couple and to bring the ‘killers’ in the court in ‘due course.’
The HC bench also directed the authorities concerned not to give any statements to the print and electronic media until there were specific developments in the investigation of the killings.
It also asked the information secretary to take steps in 24 hours to ensure that no speculative news, which could manipulate or influence the investigation, were printed or broadcast.
As a part of continued demonstration in home and abroad, the journalists on April 7 postponed their April 8 sit-in programme in front of the home ministry after minister Sahara Khatun assured them of looking into their three key demands including the arrest of the suspected killers.
On April 18, the High Court directed the IGP to hand over the responsibility of investigation from the Detective Branch to the RAB after police failed to make any headway in the murder case.
The Court also asked the RAB to make all out effort to complete the investigation as soon as possible.
As a part of their investigation, the RAB on April 26 on a court order exhumed the bodies of the slain journalist couple for second-time forensic tests, triggering huge criticism.
The exhumation, however, drew huge criticism of negligence of police investigation as the police had not instructed the forensic experts to examine the viscera.
The forensic expert of Dhaka Medical College, Sohel Mahmud, however, expressed doubt about the exhumation to identify the suspected killers.
The RAB’s legal and media wing deputy director Major Walid Mohammad Saifullah said they have nothing to inform the media.
Sagar’s ailing mother Saleha Monir told New Age recently, ‘I want to see the killers before I die.’
Courtesy of New Age
