Sirajganj Journo Murder: Protests go on, main accused yet to be held

With newsmen across the country protesting the killing of their fellow journalist in Sirajganj, police could not yet arrest Shahzadpur municipality mayor, the main accused in a case filed over the murder.

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Law enforcers during primary investigation found evidence that the bullet, which killed Abdul Hakim Shimul, was shot from the house of Mayor Halimul Haque Miru.

The local Awami League lawmaker also blamed the mayor for the killing.

Sirajganj-6 (Shahzadpur) MP Hashibur Rahman Swapon claimed that Shimul, the Shahzadpur correspondent of the daily Samakal, died after he was hit by a bullet fired by Miru during a clash on Thursday.

“I came to know about this from eyewitnesses and party men. He [the mayor] was seen firing in a video footage of the clash,” he told The Daily Star over the phone yesterday. He also demanded legal actions against the mayor.

Police yesterday arrested six accused, including two brothers of the mayor, in connection with the killing.

Meanwhile, a half-day hartal enforced by local journalists and Chhatra League activists protesting the killing ended peacefully in the upazila yesterday.

Shimul, who suffered bullet wounds during the clash between two rival groups of local AL, died of his injuries on Friday while being taken to Dhaka from a Bogra hospital.

His 90-year-old grandmother, Rokeya Begum, could not bear the shock and suffered a heart attack. She too died on Friday.

A video filmed during the clash showed the mayor with a firearm. In the two-minute video, Miru, wearing a brown blazer and white pyjamas, was seen walking with the gun behind a group of people who were chasing their rivals with sharp weapons.

The video, captured by a local, also showed police trying to bring the situation under control. The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the video.

CASE FILED AGAINST MIRU, OTHERS

Shimul's wife Nurun Nahar Begum filed a case with Shahzadpur Police Station on Friday night against Miru, his two brothers, 15 named and 20 to 25 unnamed people.

The complainant in the case statement claimed that Shimul went to cover news in front of Mayor's Monirampur house Thursday afternoon when the AL activists staged a protest there.

“The bullet, which was shot from the mayor's house during the agitation, hit my husband, leaving him critically injured, and he died of his injuries Friday noon,” reads the case statement.

“I want punishment of the real culprits no matter whatever position they hold,” Nurun Nahar told this newspaper.

Contacted, Abul Hasnat, assistant superintendent of police in Sirajganj, said police in primary investigation found evidence that the bullet was shot from the mayor's house.

He said they seized the mayor's firearm and collected a bullet's shell from his house. After forensic tests, it could be ascertained whether the bullet was fired from the mayor's firearm, he added.

The ASP said they also seized 43 bullets from Miru's house.

Rezaul Haque, officer-in-charge of Shahzadpur Police Station, said six accused, including Miru's two brothers -- Habibul Haque Mintu and Hasibul Haque Pintu -- were arrested in connection with the killing.

“The mayor went into hiding after the incident, but we are trying to arrest him,” he added.

KILLERS MUST BE PUNISHED: NASIM

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim yesterday at a programme in Pabna said the killers of Shimul must be punished, even if they are influential.

“The Awami League is a big political party. There may be some trivial problems, but those involved in crimes never get the support from the party.”

“Several accused have already been held and the rest would be arrested soon...” the minister told reporters after inaugurating an Intensive Care Unit at Pabna Sadar  Hospital.

ASK DEMANDS PUNISHMENT OF KILLERS

Rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra yesterday in a press release expressed deep concern over the killing of Shimul. It also demanded that those involved in the killing be brought to justice soon.

CPJ DEMANDS VIGOROUS INVESTIGATION

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has said Bangladesh authorities should vigorously investigate and bring to justice those responsible for killing Abdul Hakim Shimul.

“This shooting took place before many witnesses, and police have reportedly seized the weapon and identified its owner,” said Steven Butler, CPJ Asia programme coordinator.

“There can be no excuse for failing to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice,” Butler was quoted as saying in a message released from Washington.

BFUJ, DUJ, PRESS COUNCIL CONDEMN KILLING

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists in a joint statement condemned the killing and demanded highest punishment of the killers, reports BSS.

Expressing shock at the killing of Shimul, Bangladesh Press Council yesterday in a press release demanded quick legal action against the killers.

HARTAL OBSERVED

Journalists across the country protested the killing and demanded immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

The local press club and the Chhatra League, pro-Awami League student body, yesterday enforced a half-day hartal in the upazila.

Shops and other institutions remained closed while journalists and locals brought out processions in the upazila town, demanding punishment of the killers.

SHIMUL, HIS GRANDMOTHER BURIED

The victims' relatives, local politicians and a large number of people attended a namaz-e-janaza of Shimul and his grandmother at Shahzadpur Pilot School ground around 10:30am yesterday.

They were laid to rest at the family graveyard in Madra.