A police probe into reports that Niladri Chatterjee Niloy had been rebuffed by police as he attempted to file a general diary (GD), has admitted that the slain blogger had made at least one visit to a police station.
Despite finding evidence from an analysis of Niloy’s phone records, the probe body could not confirm the reason for his visit to the station.
Known as Niloy Neel on blogging platforms and on Facebook, Niladri posted accounts of his difficulties with filing a GD despite telling police that he feared he was in danger.
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He was hacked to death with machetes by four unidentified assailants at his home in Dhaka around 1:30pm last Friday.
A police official asking not to be named, said Niloy’s cell phone showed evidence of activity in the Khilgaon police station area on the date when it is claimed he attempted to file a GD.
“However, that does not prove he was there to file a GD. We are still investigating.”
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A three-member police probe body led by Tareq Bin Rashid, additional deputy commissioner of Motijheel division police, submitted its preliminary report to the commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
The probe body recommended that action be taken against the Khilgaon police station officer-in-charge and duty officer who were on duty when Niloy visited.
Anowar Hossain, deputy commissioner of Motijheel division police, said a preliminary report had been sent tot the deputy commissioner of DMP headquarters containing proof that Niloy had been at the police station.
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“If it is proven that Niloy was there to file a GD and the police refused to take it, those responsible will be held to account,” he said.
It has been reported that before his death, Niloy visited Khilgaon police station around 8:10pm on May 14 to file a GD. The duty officer Sub-Inspector Shamshul Islam did not take the GD, but instead suggested to Niloy that he leave the country. The duty officer reportedly would not discuss the matter with his superiors.
SI Shamshul’s mobile telephone was found switched off when the Dhaka Tribune attempted to contact him yesterday for a comment.
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When asked about it, Mustafiz Bhuyan, the officer-in-charge of Khilgaon police station, last night said he could not comment on an ongoing investigation.
“Besides, it is the responsibility of the duty officer to take a GD and no one contacted me about it, so it is not my responsibility,” he added.
Detectives are trying to trace the location of Ashif Adnan, who is believed to be a coordinator of a sleeper cell of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team.
Detectives say if he were arrested, not just Niloy’s murder but many other murders would be solved.
Adnan was arrested in the capital’s Segunbagicha area on September 25 last year but was later bailed. His whereabouts have been unknown since Niloy’s murder, according to a police source.
Investigators said they were searching for a left-handed killer and two accomplices to the crime.
Sources said three possible suspects, identified by the police after hearing eyewitness accounts, had been placed under surveillance.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said law enforcers were analysing the clues in the Niloy murder case and would hopefully make an arrest soon.
