Family files case against 31 over lawyer's murder in Chattogram

Saiful Islam Alif's father initiates the case over his son's killing during protests after Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was sent to jail

The family of slain lawyer Saiful Islam Alif has initiated a case over his death during the violence that erupted when Hindu preacher Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was being taken to jail in Chattogram.

The case was filed by Saiful's father, Jamal Uddin, at the Kotwali Police Station on Friday night. It implicates 31 people, along with 15-16 unnamed suspects, according to Deputy Commissioner (Media) Kazi Md Tareq Aziz of Chattogram Metropolitan Police.

Meanwhile, a separate case has been started by Alif's brother, Khane Alam, against 116 individuals over the attacks and vandalism targeting lawyers, said Tareq.

The development follows a protest on Tuesday by members of the Hindu community outside the court premises over the dismissal of Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote spokesman Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari's bail in a sedition case.

The protest lasted for around two and a half hours before police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd. During the protest, several motorcycles and vehicles on Court Road were damaged, as glass shards littered the second floor of the Court Mosque Complex, where lawyers' chambers are located.

The demonstration sparked clashes between protestors and lawyers and staff. Saiful was killed during the skirmishes on the Rangam Convention Hall road.

CMP Deputy Commissioner (Crime) Raish Uddin said a viral video showed lawyer Saiful being beaten brutally by several people while he lay unconscious on the road.

Saiful was later taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where he was declared dead, according to Nazim Uddin, president of the Chattogram Bar Association.

Police have filed three cases in connection with Tuesday’s violence and have arrested 35 people so far. This is the first case filed by the lawyer's family over his murder.