Dhaka, Oct 2 (BDNEWS) – The High Court Sunday ordered officer-in-charge (OC) of Motijheel thana, AKM Rafiqul Islam, main accused in college student Momin murder case, to surrender before Metropolitan Sessions Judge's court within four weeks.
A vacation bench of the High Court comprising Justice Sheikh Rezowan Ali and Justice Sheikh Abdul Awal also directed the government not to arrest or harass him during the time.
The order came upon a petition filed by OC Rafiqul Islam seeking anticipatory bail in the case.
OC Rafiq, who had been absconding for over two weeks, appeared before the High Court bench in plainclothes for the bail.
Counsel for the petitioner advocate Habibul Islam Bhuiyan submitted before the court that the petitioner is an honest police officer.
But, he said, reports are being published in media against him and the government has kept him under pressure.
The HC bench wanted to know as to why the OC is not surrendering before the lower court to obtain bail.
In reply, Advocate Habibul Islam said the petitioner is now under pressure. The lower court will not grant him bail, he said seeking time.
The court granted the plea and allowed OC Rafiq four weeks time to surrender before the lower court.
Advocate Zainul Abedin assisted advocate Habibul Islam Bhuiyan in moving the petition.
Kamrul Islam Momin, 22, a third year student of Mirpur Commerce College, and son of Abdur Razzak of 155 Uttar Ibrahimpur, was murdered by unidentified assailants allegedly over a land-related dispute with OC Rafiq.
Family members of the deceased alleged that the OC Rafiqul Islam hired gunmen to kill Momin.
Abdur Razak filed a murder case against 26 people including OC Rafiq with Kafrul thana in this connection on September 14.
The following day, OC Rafiq was closed for his alleged link with the brutal killing of Momin and asked to report to Rajarbagh police line.
Since the government action Rafiq was absconding.
Momin's family members alleged that OC Rafiq from his hideout has been threatening them.
They at a press conference had also said that their life will be at stake if OC Rafiq is allowed to roam around.
Another police officer is now in jail for a similar incident.
Detective branch's assistant Commissioner Akram Hossain, known as AC Akram, has been suffering life-term rigorous imprisonment on charge of killing a college student, Shamim Reza Rubel, in police custody.
BDNEWS/1621 hrs
