Japanese Kunio Hoshi murder witnesses identify JMB militant as killer

A rickshaw-puller and a tea seller who witnessed the murder of Japan national Kunio Hoshi in Rangpur have identified his killer in court.

They identified Masud Rana aka ‘Mantri’, Rangpur region commander for Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), as the man who fired the fatal shots.

Rickshaw-puller Abdul Monnaf and tea-seller Abdullah Al Mamun testified before Special Judge Naresh Chandra Sarkar on Tuesday, said state lawyer Rathish Chandra Bhoumik Babu Shona.

The two witnesses also described the 66-year-old’s murder in court, he said.

Monnaf said he used to take the victim to his farm every day. On the day of the murder, three assailants including Masud blocked their way at Alutali village around 9am, he said.

“Masud brought out a pistol and shot Hoshi twice from close range. Monnaf

said he ran away in fear as Kunio dropped to the ground,” said the lawyer.

Someone else fired blank shots at a distance and the three fled on a red

motorcycle that went towards Hargancha.

“The tea seller testified to seeing the three attackers waiting with the red

motorbike at Mahiganj-Harganch road. He said he saw them block Monnaf’s

rickshaw with Hoshi on it.”

“He said he heard gunfire and saw the three flee on the motorbike while Hoshi was lying on the ground.”

The shooting took place in front of the house owned by Maidul Islam’s father.

He testified in court besides his neighbours Nurul Islam and Arshad Hossain.

On Oct 3, 2015, Hoshi was shot and killed by miscreants in a Kaunia Upazila village.

In July, last year, police submitted the chargesheet in which they indicted 8 members of terror outfit JMB in the case.