Former Awami League MP Mollah Jalaluddin has claimed that the death of his daughter-in-law Lipi was just an accident.
On the other hand, the deceased’s elder brother Asaduzzaman Milon has claimed that Hedayet, the prime accused of the case who is also known as personal assistant to Mollah Jalaluddin, had intentionally murdered Lipi.
He said Hedayet fled the scene when Lipi’s younger sister Ankhi started shouting. If it were an accident, Hedayet would never have left the spot. Moreover, he turned off the main electric switch and locked the central gate of the house from outside while fleeing.
According to Ankhi, Hedayet entered Lipi’s bedroom around 8pm on Wednesday. He requested Lipi to show him the shotgun licensed to Lipi’s husband. Hedayet took the gun and holding it point blank at Lipi’s forehead said, as if joking, “Shall I pull the trigger?!” Then there was a loud bang and Lipi’s skull was blown off.
Police recovered the bullet-ridden body of Rabbi Sultana Lipi, 30, from her residence around 8:30pm that day.
Lipi’s father-in-law Mollah Jalaluddin has filed a case mentioning his nephew Hedayet (son of his younger brother Lokai Mollah) responsible for what he claimed to be an accident.
In the case statement, he said a bullet was released accidentally while moving the shotgun. Before lodging the case, Mollah Jalaluddin did not agree to talk with journalists. After the murder he held a closed-door meeting with family members including Lipi’s mother Halima Begum and witness of the incident Ankhi. After the meeting, he told journalists that while cleaning the shotgun Lipi accidentally pulled the trigger and died out of the bullet injury.
He said he was on the third floor when the incident happened. Hearing the gunshot he went to fifth floor and saw Lipi lying on the bed in a bloody condition. He did not see Hedayet.
Their neighbour Rafiqul Islam Shahin said on Wednesday night hearing the hue and cry, he went near the main gate of the house. He saw Hedayet going out. When he asked Hedayet what happened, he said a robbery had been conducted in the house.
“Hedayet used to stay with Jalal Mollah most of the time. He was known as a gunman and a personal secretary to him. He visited the house regularly,” added Shahin.
Lipi’s husband Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and mother-in-law Fatema Begum reached their home in Munni Para area along South Central Road in Khulna yesterday.
Khulna Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Sukumer Biswas said Lipi’s father-in-law Mollah Jalal mentioned Hedayet’s name in the case. Police was searching for Hedayet. New clues might be found after arresting Hedayet.
