A Dhaka court has permitted police to interrogate two suspected JMB activists for three days over the killing of former PDB chief Khizir Khan at his home.
Published : 15 Oct 2015, 04:33 PM
Police arrested Tarikul Islam alias Tarek aka Mithu, 23, in Tangail and another suspect Alek Bapari from Mirpur, in Dhaka on Oct 14.
Investigators say they believe Mithu, an alleged organiser of JMB, ‘masterminded’ Khan’s murder.
A Detective Branch official had told bdnews24.com that Mithu was present when Khan was murdered in his house at Badda on Oct 5.
The case’s investigation officer DB Inspector Azizur Rahman sought 10 days to interrogate the two but the court granted him three days question each suspect.
Several youngmen entered the house of former PDB chief Khan, 68, and murdered him, but the motive behind the killing is as yet unclear.
There was a ‘Khankah Sharif’ (a place for religious gathering) at Khan’s home and many followed him as a ‘pir’ (saint).
DMP Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam told reporters that the killers detested ‘pir’ and ‘Khankah Sharif’.
“They claim there’s no word like ‘pir’ in Islam. They killed him believing it to be their religious responsibilities,” he said on Thursday.
Islam claimed at least eight killers took part in the murder. One group surveyed the area while the other took part in the murder.
He said Mithu is the follower of hardliner JMB leader ‘Faruk’ and Bepari is a driver by profession.
“Mithu directly took part in the killing while Bepari took them to Khan’s residence and helped them escape,” the police officer added.
Khan’s killing is a chilling reminder of last year’s murder of Islami Front leader Nurul Islam Farooqi at his Dhaka residence.
In 2013, self-styled ‘pir’ Lutfur Rahman was killed in the same way at his Gopibagh home.
Investigators are yet to solve the crimes but say they suspect militants were behind both the murders that might have been carried out because of ideological conflicts.
DMP’s Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Najmul Alam told bdnews24.com the killers believed they could take away properties of anyone they killed.
“That’s why they stole goods from Khizir Khan’s home after murdering him,” he said.