5 more remanded for Sagar- Runi murder

A Dhaka court on Sunday allowed law enforcers to grill in their custody for five days five other suspects of the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi. Full report

Dhaka, Oct 14 (bdnews24.com)—A Dhaka court on Sunday allowed law enforcers to grill in their custody for five days five other suspects of the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

The five – Kamrul Hassan Arun, 'Rafique', 'Bakul','Syed' and Mintu Peyada – are also accused of the murder of BMA leader Dr Narayan Chandra Nitai. Arun was Nitai's driver while the rest were dubbed as 'professional robbers' by the police.

Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Keshab Roy Chowdhury approved the remand following a Oct 10 petition by RAB's Investigation and Forensic Wing officer, Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mohammad Zafar Ullah.

He asked for 10 days to grill them after they were shown arrested for the journalist couple's murder.

Among the five, four were placed in police custody in the morning. The hearing on Mintu's remand appeal was held in the afternoon in connection to another case.

Post and Telecommunication Minister Shahara Khatun's lawyer Abbas Uddin Matabbor argued for the accused at the hearing.

The accused and their family member pleaded innocence at the court room and court premises. They said they were not involved with murder case of the journalist couple in any way.

Opposing the remand plea, Matabbor said," We also want trial of the killers of Sagar and Runi."

"But why have they been accused falsely without arresting the real accused," he questioned.

He said the DNA samples of the accused have been sent to the US laboratories for testing and added, "They should be placed to remand once the reports are in hands,"

Just before staring of the hearing Kamrul burst into tears and told the court: "I am not guilty. I never heard the names of Sagar Runi. None of us killed the journlists. Why have we become accused."

Bakul, Another accused, said they were arrested 'for no reason'. "We will be killed in remand."

The megistrate told them to stop their cries." It is useles to cry (in the court). You will be heard once the hearing starts."

The wife of Kamrul Tripti Begum said, "My husband is not guilty. He is not a thief... he did not kill any journalist. My husband will be killed after taking him in remand. Please save my husband."

The family of the accused claimed Bakul and Rafique trade onion and raw materials while Syed used to sell pop-corns on roads.

On Oct 9, Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir claimed at a press conference to have identified eight persons associated with the killing.

He said one of them, 'Tanvir', was a family friend of the slain couple. The security guard of the building in which the journalist couple lived, Rudra alias Palash, had also been arrested, he added.

The minister said another person, Humayun alias Enamul, who worked as a security guard in the building Sagar and Runi lived, was also found to be tied to their killing. A Tk 1 million reward for his arrest has been declared.

Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar and ATN Bangla's Senior Reporter Runi were killed at their rented West Rajabazar flat on Feb 11.

Five of the arrested seven people are also accused in a case filed over the killing of Dr Nitai.

bdnews24.com/pb/shs/bd/ano/2100h