Witnesses describe how MP Liton's killers came, shot him, fled

The killers of Gaibandha MP Manjurul Islam Liton surveyed the neighbourhood before entering his home in Sundarganj, witnesses say.

They said the killers spoke to the Awami League legislator before the murder.

Five youths took part in the killing mission. Two of them entered the living room while the three others stayed outside.

Gunshots were heard sometime after the youths entered the house on Saturday evening. The five then fled in motorcycles.

Liton's driver Forkan Mia said he chased the youths with the car but lost trail.

According to the witnesses, the pants, jackets and shoes of the youths were black.

One of them sported French-cut beard.

Police are yet to say who killed the Gaibandha-1 MP.

Liton's party Awami League has pointed the finger at Jamaat-e-Islami, which has denied the allegation, saying the ruling party is passing the blame on it to hide the real killers.

According to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, 18 suspects have so far been detained, but they have not been named. The minister hopes that the killers will be identified 'soon'.

Liton's house is situated at Bamondanga-Noldanga road at Shahbaz village in Sarbananda Union. This is the first time the 48-year old was elected MP.

On Sunday, police personnel and local residents gathered in the house.

During the murder on Saturday, there was no outsiders in the house other than the killers.

House help Yusuf Ali told bdnews24.com that Liton's wife Khurshid Jahan Smriti, brother-in-law 'Betar', niece 'Samu', and aunt Smriti Begum were in the house on Saturday evening.

Besides Yusuf, the others working in the house were 'Sajedul', Iman Hossain, 'Roksana', 'Bilkis' and another woman - 'Jabed's mother'. Another house help - 'Sunendro' - went to the market to buy chicken.

Sajedul said 20 to 25 men always accompany the MP every day. "But there was no one yesterday evening," he said.

Yusus said two persons came in the afternoon asking for money for treatment. Another person came and left with a blanket. They were the last to come to the house before the murder.

Roaming from afternoon

Children play on the ground in front of the MP's house every day in the afternoon.

There were 10 to 12 boys playing cricket on Saturday too and the MP was watching the game, sitting in front of the house.

The boys saw the five youths on two motorbikes roaming in the area from 4pm.

One of them told bdnews24.com that two of the youths spoke to MP Liton when their game was about to finish just before dusk.

"They said they were in a hurry and wanted to talk to him outside. But the MP asked them to sit and talk in the living room. Then they entered the living room," the boy said.

The three waiting outside asked the children to go home as it was getting dark, he said.

"We heard gunshots when we started for home," he added.

Tricks

Sajedul said he saw two youths sitting with the MP after he entered the living room.

The duo asked him to bring betel leaf and nut and he went to a shop next to the house to bring those.

"I heard gunshots when I was returning home," he said.

Quoting some witnesses, a police official said on condition of anonymity that Liton's wife Smriti and brother-in-law Betar were also in the room when the MP entered it with the two youths.

Smriti and Betar left the room when the men asked that they be allowed to talk to the MP in private.

They rushed back hearing gunshots and saw the MP lying on the floor.

Running after shooting

Yusuf said he was at the courtyard inside the house when he heard three gunshots just after the Maghrib prayers.

"I rushed outside the house and saw two sitting on a motorbike after kick-starting it. Another ran to the other motorbike and started it. The remaining two joined him," he said.

He said one of them opened fire when he tried to chase them.

"They shot in the air and fled," he said.

Liton was rushed to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, but died around half an hour later. The doctors said he took two bullets in his left chest and another in his left arm.

A failed chase

Liton's driver Forkan said he chased the killers with the car to Tekanir Morh intersection.

"At that point I could not see where they had gone," he said.

The locals started for the hospital with the fatally wounded MP on a motorbike as Forkan took the car for the chase.

The driver later saw the MP being carried on the motorbike and took him to the hospital.

Forkan said the five wore black pants, black jackets and black shoes.

Who opened fire?

The witnesses could not say for sure who among the five had shot the MP.

Yusuf said those waiting outside shot Liton through a window and the door.

"We saw the muzzle flash from the courtyard inside the house. The bullet came through the door to the courtyard as it was shot from the door to the street," he said.

But two of the boys, who were still playing at the ground, said they saw one of the three outside sitting on a motorbike while the two others were walking around.

Police said four bullet shells and two spent bullets were found on the scene. The two fired bullets might have pierced the MP's body, they said.

The investigation

Police said they were focusing on five things in the investigation -- a planned murder by JMB or another militant group, a Jamaat attack, political rivalry, family foes, and the recently held Zila Parishad elections.

Speaking about the motive, Home Minister Kamal said, "We are seeing whether it was their plan to create a situation in the area. We are keeping an eye on everything."

Liton, a diploma engineer (marine) by training, was a director of Ananda Group of Industries.

The MP hit the headlines in 2015 after he had allegedly shot a 9-year-old schoolboy, Shahadat Hossain Sourav, in his constituency. He was arrested in the case and later freed on bail.

The boy and his family have said they wanted the MP to be punished for shooting at him, but they did not expect him to be killed this way.