Sinha murder: Defence lawyers allegedly obstruct trial

On the first day of recording statements of the witnesses in the Major (retd) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan murder case trial, the defence lawyers allegedly tried to delay the proceedings at a Cox’s Bazar court.

Defendant’s lawyer advocate Rana Dash Gupta submitted 11 petitions praying to suspend the case but the court didn’t accept them, said Plaintiffs’ lawyer advocate Mohammad Jahangir and public prosecutor advocate Faridul Alam to media.

Meanwhile, the trial proceedings of the sensational murder case began with recording the testimonial statement of Sinha’s sister and plaintiff of the case Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous.

Thirteen lawyers presenting the defendant’s side cross-questioned the testimony of the witness on Monday, reports UNB.

On Tuesday, Sharmin will be questioned by the lawyers of main accused suspended OC Pradeep and suspended Inspector Liakat Ali.

At 5pm, the court was adjourned and said other witnesses will start testifying on Tuesday and Wednesday following the plaintiff.

Statements of 15 of the 83 witnesses in this case including the plaintiff will be testified before the court within Wednesday.

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On June 27, Cox’s Bazar district and session judge Mohammad Ismail Hossain took charge of the case and declared the date for recording statements of 10 witnesses on July 26, 27 and 28, said public prosecutor advocate Faridul Alam.

But the date was postponed later due to government imposed lockdown to contain the Covid-19 spread, he said.

On July 31 last year, Sinha was shot dead at the Shamlapur police check-post in Baharchhara Union of Cox's Bazar while returning to town after filming for a documentary.

On August 5, Sinha's sister, Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, filed a case with Teknaf Senior Judicial Magistrate Court accusing nine members of law enforcement agencies of being involved in the killing, including Pradeep Kumar Das and Baharchhara police outpost inspector Liakat Ali.

On December 13, 2020, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) submitted a charge sheet against 15 people, including police source Ayaz and three APBn members, in connection with the case filed over Sinha's murder at a checkpost manned by APBn, where officers of the Teknaf police station intercepted Sinha's car.

All of the 15 accused of the charge sheet are currently in jail. Of them 12 have given confessional statement before court except OC Pradeep Kumar Das, constable Sagar Dev and Rubel Sharma.

Other accused of the case are Inspector of Baharchara Police outpost Liakat Ali, sub-inspectors Nandolal Rakkhit and Tutul, assistant sub-inspector Liton Mia; constables Shafanur Karim, Kamal Hossain, Abdullah AL Mamun, , Md Rajib and Md Abdullah, ASI of APBN Md Shahjahan and Nurul Amin, Md Nizamuddin and Ayaz Uddin.

Our correspondent Abdul Aziz, Cox's Bazar contributed to this report.