The prime accused in the case filed over the lynching of Wahiduzzaman Shamim in Debhata, Satkhira, Fazlul Haque Ameni, has said he had no intention of killing the victim and that the incident happened accidentally, adding that he was not remorseful.
He made the comments while responding to questions from journalists following his arrest.
Ameni was arrested around 11pm on Saturday from a relative’s house in Faridpur village of Kaliganj upazila in Satkhira. Members of Debhata Circle, Kaliganj police station, Debhata police station and Special Response Battalion (SRB)-6 conducted a joint operation to arrest him.
He was handed over to Satkhira Sadar police station on Sunday afternoon. Police sent him to court around 4pm.
Responding to journalists while being handed over to police, Ameni said: “I am a criminal in the eyes of the law. But you have seen what I did on social media. Almighty Allah will deliver the proper judgment. However, I had no intention of beating him to death. It happened accidentally.”
Asked whether he regretted Shamim’s death, Ameni said: “No, I am not remorseful about this. We did not initially realize how much of an atheist he was. Later, when atheists from different countries called me on my phone and threatened me, I became certain that he was actually an atheist.”
Debhata police station Officer-in-Charge HM Shaheen said Ameni had admitted to his involvement in the killing.
He said Ameni had informed police that he would make a confessional statement before a court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. Police therefore believe there is no need to take him into remand, the OC added.
According to the case statement, an audio recording of a conversation between Shamim, 38, and his wife was circulated on Facebook on October 12. After allegations that the recording contained derogatory remarks about religion, locals became agitated and attacked Shamim’s house.
The following afternoon, Shamim was allegedly dragged out of a rural doctor’s chamber at a local market and beaten while receiving treatment.
Police rescued him and admitted him to Debhata Upazila Health Complex. Later that night, around 8:30pm, a group allegedly led by Fazlul Haque Ameni attacked the hospital, took Shamim away and assaulted him again.
Shamim died while being taken to Satkhira Medical College Hospital.
His elder brother Abdul Jalil later filed a murder case with Debhata Police Station, naming 10 people and accusing 200–250 unidentified individuals. Ameni was named the prime accused.
