Police declare Tk5 lakh bounty for prime accused Musa

CMP Commissioner Md Iqbal Bahar made the announcement yesterday at a press briefing in the CMP Headquarters regarding preparations of law enforcement agencies for Durga Puja, Ashura and security of the visiting England national cricket team. “During investigation of the brutal murder, police learnt that it was planned and carried out by Musa, who went into hiding after the incident. We need him to find out why he murdered Mitu and who was the mastermind behind the attack,” the CMP commissioner said. “Anyone who provides information on Musa’s whereabouts or help police in arresting him will be rewarded with Tk5 lakh.” Mitu, 32, was stabbed and shot to death near her house in Chittagong’s GEC intersection area on June 5 while she was waiting with her son for his school bus. At first, police suspected that militants might have been involved with the murder, given Babul’s track record in anti-terrorism drives. But later police said professional killers were hired to kill Mitu. Babul filed a murder case with Panchlaish police station accusing three unnamed people who were seen fleeing the scene after killing Mitu in CCTV footages. “Babul Akter is plaintiff in the case; the investigation officer is always in contact with him to discuss the case and has asked him to visit Chittagong to help with the investigation. He [Babul] has agreed and will visit Chittagong soon to cooperate with the investigators,” Iqbal said. Asked about Musa’s wife’s claim that he was arrested by plain-clothes police on June 22, the CMP chief said: “We have yet to arrest him. If the court wants to know about it, we will provide the proof.” Police have arrested seven individuals suspected to be connected with Mitu’s murder. Two of the arrested suspects confessed to being involved in the murder before a court. Two other suspects were killed in a gunfight with police when they went to arrest them on July 5. CMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operation) Debdas Bhattacharia, Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Masood-ul-Hasan and Additional Commissioner (Admin and Finance) Saleh Mohammed Tanvir were present at the press briefing as well.