The arrest of two suspects over the death of headteacher Ranjila Parvin has come under scrutiny after a discrepancy emerged between the motorcycle seen in CCTV footage of the mugging and the one recovered by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
RAB says it recovered a Yamaha R15 motorcycle used in the mugging that led to the death of the 56-year-old teacher, who fell from a battery-run rickshaw after a mugger pulled at her bag in front of the Parliament complex on Saturday.
However, CCTV footage shows two suspected muggers riding a blue motorcycle, while photographs released by RAB show the recovered motorcycle as black and white.
One of the arrested suspects, Mosharraf Hossain Poni alias Poni Gazi, also pointed out the discrepancy when he was brought before journalists following Sunday’s briefing.
“I am not involved in the incident. I was brought here by force. My motorcycle is black and white, while the motorcycle seen in the footage is blue,” Poni shouted, urging journalists to investigate the matter.
RAB-2 Commander Additional DIG Naimul Hasan said Poni and his associate Cedric had been arrested from East Tejturi Bazar with the help of intelligence and technology, within 24 hours of the incident.
He stressed that the two had been arrested as suspects, as the case was filed against unidentified accused.
“We are repeatedly saying that they have been arrested as suspects. As the accused in the case are unidentified, they have been arrested based on suspicion. We will wait until the matter becomes clearer,” Naimul said.
RAB’s grounds for suspecting Poni
RAB said it has three main grounds for suspecting Poni.
First, motorcycle owner Rakib told investigators that Poni would take the motorcycle from him by force. The motorcycle had remained with Poni from August 26 until Saturday afternoon, RAB said.
Second, RAB said Poni’s physical build matched that of the motorcycle rider seen in the CCTV footage. The agency also showed the footage to 15 local sources, who identified Poni as the person seen in it.
RAB further said it showed the recovered motorcycle to Ranjila’s husband, Abdul Matin, who identified it as the same motorcycle used in the incident.
Third, RAB said the mobile phone numbers of the suspects were detected in the area between 2:30am and 4am.
RAB has also detained motorcycle owner Rakib for questioning. According to Naimul, Rakib said Poni, whom he knew as an older brother from his neighbourhood, would threaten him if he refused to hand over the motorcycle.
Investigators are looking into Rakib’s possible involvement and will decide whether to arrest him if evidence emerges.
Poni faces 13 cases
RAB described Poni as a professional mugger and said he has been accused in 13 cases filed in different police stations in Dhaka and outside the capital.
The cases include three drug cases, six involving theft and intimidation, three involving theft and burglary, and one case over preparation for robbery.
RAB said Poni had previously been arrested and later released on bail. Investigators are verifying when he was released.
Naimul said RAB currently has no specific information about Cedric, although Rakib confirmed that Cedric was sitting behind Poni on the motorcycle.
The two suspects will be handed over to police and will be questioned after investigators obtain court permission, Naimul said.