Six people, including a Chhatra Dal leader, have been arrested in connection with the killing of two police members in Dhaka during the quota reform movement.
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) chief Additional Commissioner Harunor Rashid said this at a press briefing at DMP Media Centre on Friday.
A team of Detective Branch (DB) of Cyber and Special Crime (South) arrested six people, including Demra Chhatra Dal Convener Masud Rana, from different parts of the capital on Thursday as the mastermind of the killing of two policemen.
The other arrestees are Irfan, Abu Bakar, Rabiul Islam, Sourav Mia and Tarek.
According to police, the murder plot of the policemen was executed under the leadership of Chhatra Dal leader Masud Rana. Each person had specific responsibilities. They were arrested based on precise evidence after analyzing video footage.
Harunor Rashid said: “On July 19, under Masud Rana’s leadership, a group of 25-30 people, including Irfan, Abu Bakkar, Rabiul Islam, Sourav Mia, and Tarek, gathered at Rayerbagh in Jatrabari for the quota reform movement. They engaged in arson, spreading rumours via mosque microphones, attacking the police station, and murdering police officers.”
"Around 11:30pm, they chased a motorcyclist who fell by the roadside. Masud Rana and his associates found police uniforms and ID cards in his bag. They shouted 'police' and beat the officer to death with sticks. They then celebrated over his body and set fire to his motorcycle. Central Jubo Dal member Tarek funded and instructed them to commit these acts."
The DB official further said: "The next day, on the morning of July 20, a similar incident occurred. When the miscreants saw a man in plain clothes on a motorcycle coming into the area, they chased and caught him. Recognizing him as a police officer, they beat him with hockey sticks, bamboo, and other sticks until he died on the spot. They also set fire to his motorcycle."
The two deceased members were Mohammad Muqtadir, 50 and Naik Gias Uddin, 58.
"They not only beat and killed police officers, but they also searched homes looking for police officers. Now, we are also searching homes of Jamaat, Shibir and BNP activists. Wherever we find them, we will arrest them," he said
Harun said: "Jamaat and BNP cadres brutally killed our two police officers. During the quota reform movement, using innocent students as shields, we saw attacks on state installations and the targeting of police officers. They targeted police officers in Jatrabari, Shonir Akhra, and Rayerbagh areas. They even announced a reward of Tk10,000 for killing a police officer."
“We lost three police officers during the quota movement, but the police morale has not been broken. Legal action is being taken against those who killed the police, killed ordinary people, carried out sabotage on government installations including the metro rail, those who led these activities, and those who provided financial support. They will not be spared, no matter where they are," he added.