Dhaka Police identify three suspects in brutal killing of political activist in Sabujbagh
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Police in the capital’s Sabujbagh area have identified three suspects in the brutal murder of local political activist Ibrahim Palash, who was killed Tuesday night in a targeted assault that saw his hands severed by attackers. While investigators have named the suspects, no arrests have been made as of Wednesday, and the missing body parts remain unrecovered.
The 32-year-old victim, a private car driver originally from Laxmipur, was attacked near the Bagpara water pump at approximately 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. According to CCTV footage reviewed by law enforcement, a group of 15 to 20 people had gathered near a local tea shop when the primary suspect, identified as 37-year-old Mostafa Hossain Royal, approached the victim with a machete and began the assault. As Palash attempted to flee, the group pursued him into a nearby alley, where he was struck repeatedly and his wrists were severed.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Palash was rushed to Mugda General Hospital and subsequently transferred to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital emergency unit, where he was pronounced dead at 9:30 p.m. His elder sister, Jozna Begum, has since filed a murder case at Sabujbagh Police Station, naming Mostafa, along with associates Mohammad Sabuj and another individual identified only as Shafique, as prime suspects.
Investigators are currently exploring multiple motives for the crime. One primary line of inquiry suggests a personal vendetta stemming from a physical altercation three days prior over a stolen mobile phone, during which the victim allegedly assaulted the parents of the prime suspect. Police noted that Mostafa had explicitly threatened to cut off the victim’s hands during that earlier dispute. Authorities are also investigating potential links to local drug trafficking syndicates and disputes over the distribution of illicit proceeds.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Police records indicate a history of criminal activity involving both the victim and the primary suspect. Mostafa, a joint convener of the local Jubo Dal ward committee, has seven prior cases against him, including charges of extortion, assault, and attempted murder. The victim, Palash, also faced a previous attempted murder charge and was known for leveraging political affiliations to arbitrate local disputes, despite holding no official rank within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Sabujbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam described the incident as a premeditated killing. He stated that efforts to apprehend the suspects and recover the severed limbs are ongoing, with several individuals currently being interrogated.
The victim’s family has expressed anguish over the nature of the attack and the lack of immediate arrests. Jozna Begum, the plaintiff in the case, emphasized that the CCTV footage clearly captures the suspects’ faces and demanded swift legal action against those involved. Police confirmed that they are actively tracking the suspects, who remain at large.
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