Gopibagh six-murder probe stalled

Investigation into the sensational six murders that took place at Old Dhaka’s Gopibagh in 2013 has remained stalled for a year as the law enforcers failed to arrest the four absconding JMB militants who slaughtered self-proclaimed Pir Lutfar Rahman and five others on this day. Detectives got the names of Mahfuz, Rony, Jahid and Atik in December last year from two members of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB) – Tariqul Islam Mithu and Abdul Gafur – arrested in connection with the murder of Pir Khijir Hayat Khan in Dhaka last year. One of the duo, Mithu, later gave confessional statement in six-murder case. But the detectives could not trace the four who also took part in the attack. Self-proclaimed Pir Lutfar Rahman Family members of Pir Lutfar have expressed grievances as the law enforcers could not solve the mystery and file charge sheet in the case. They alleged that the investigator of the police’s Detective Branch (DB) had stopped contacting them. In June, the JMB in a statement claimed responsibility for both the murders. It said the “Imam Ibn Taimiah Brigade” killed Pir Lutfar and “Hafez Mahmud Brigade” slaughtered Pir Khijir Khan at his Khanqah Sharif in Badda area of Dhaka on October 5 last year.

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Pir Lutfar, his son Sarowar Islam Faruk alias Monir and four of the Pir’s disciples were found slaughtered at their 64/6 Gopibagh house on December 21, 2013. The four are Manzur Alam, Md Shahin, Rasel and Mozibar Sarker. Faruk's younger son Faruq, who survived the attack, filed a murder case with Wari police the next day. An official involved in the investigation, requesting anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that Mithu had told the investigators that they had carried out the attack since Pir Lutfar used to give false explanation of Islam. On the day of the incident, the killers acting as a follower of Pir Lutfar entered the house and killed the six confining his wife, daughter-in-law and others in another room.

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The killers left no clue that could help solve the case, the official added. Mithu was arrested from Tangail on October 14 by DB police. He was earlier arrested after simultaneous bomb blasts across the country in 2005. Kazi Golam Kabir, inspector (east) of DB police and investigation officer of the case, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were analysing the information given by Mithu and trying to arrest the four others. “We will submit the charge sheet once the four absconding JMB members are arrested or traced,” he added. In December last year, DB police claimed that JMB leader Al-Bani alias Hozza Bhai alias Member Bhai alias Shahadat alias Mahfuz led a team of militants in the killing mission. Al-Bani was killed in a gunfight in Dhaka on November 25 last year. He was also involved in the attacks on police in Gabtoli and Ashulia, and the bomb attack on Hussaini Dalan, according to detectives.