Ex Major Sinha murder: What had happened that night?

Retired major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan was shot dead by police at Shamlapur check post on Marine Drive road in Teknaf over a year and a half ago 

The home ministry formed a probe committee, and the committee revealed the incidents that happened that night.

Former army major Sinha, 36, was shot dead on the night of July 31 in 2020. His sister filed a case over the murder.

Former Officer-in-Charge (OC) Pradeep Kumar Das of Teknaf Model Police Station, Baharchhara police outpost inspector Liakat Ali and 15 others were named in the case. The verdict in the murder case will be announced today.

A month after Sinha’s death, the home ministry probe body submitted the inquiry report. Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, the then additional divisional commissioner (Development) of Chattogram, also the chief of the probe committee, submitted the report to the home minister.

In the report, the investigation committee explained Sinha's murder as reckless, unprepared, and unprofessional behaviour of the police.

According to the report, Sinha went to capture some video shot with his companion Sifat in the Tuinns Pahar. When it was dark, locals suspected them as robbers as they saw lights on the hill.

Liakat’s statement

Liakat told the probe committee that Nurul Amin, the secretary of community policing in Marishbunia, had phoned him and informed that some robbers were roaming on the hills with small lights.

Liakat was returning from a drug rescue drive. Nurul Amin called again and said that the men in army uniforms had shot the villagers and were headed to Cox's Bazar riding a silver-colour car.

Nurul Amin also had the same statement to the probe committee.

However, the probe committee questioned 35 policemen from Baharchhara but none of them had the least idea about the happenings. The discussion was only between Liakat and Nurul Amin.

As per the investigation report, Liakat did not share the information with anyone, not even the OC or any senior officer.

Besides, Liakat did not make any phone call to any colleagues, to local UP member, chairman or any locals to verify the authenticity of the information.

During the questioning, LIakat told the committee that he couldn’t manage time to verify the information.

The locals broadcast the matter using loudhailers of Marishbunia mosque that some robbers were in the hills. Then Jahir Alam, the Imam of the mosque, forbade them. He said, he had met them, and they were from the army.

The probe report recommends further investigations were needed to find out why the calls were made to Liakat repeatedly – was it just a fear of robbers or some other reason.

Sinha stopped at a Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) check post before arriving to Shamlapur check post after descending from the hill.

The on-duty BGB members saluted him after knowing his identity. And the Shamlapur check post is six kilometers away, where Sinha was shot. The army check post was over a kilometre away from that check post.

The Armed Police Battalion (APBn) members told the probe committee that Liakat did not say anything after arriving the check post.

They said, Liakat only made a phone call to Sub-Inspector (SI) Shahjahan of the check post. Besides, when he received the information of the robbers, he had a team of police. But later, he decided to move alone for the raid, without informing anyone else.

According to the committee report, Liakat’s actions were non-professional, whimsical, mysterious and questionable.

What did Sinha do?

The investigation report says that constable Rajib signaled Sinha's car to stop when that arrived at the check post.

After stopping the car, Sinha lowered his left glass and introduced himself and SI Shahjahan stepped back. The car started moving again.

Then, Liakat appeared on the scene and put barricade in front of the car and pointed a gun. He asked Sinha to get out of the car.

Sifat, companion of Sinha, told the probe committee that Sinha asked him to step down from the car. Sinha’s gun was placed in the middle of two seats but he (Sifat) did not see Sinha to touch his gun.

However, he did not see anything what happened when he was getting out of the car.

Each police member has given different information to the committee about Sinha’s stepping down from the car.

SI Shahjahan said he did not see Sinha when he got off, but had seen him (Sinha) when he (Sinha) stood up. He did not aim the gun.

Constable Rajib said that Sinha had one hand up and the other down. Constable Abdullah said he did not see Sinha pointing a weapon. Instead, his gun was inside the holster. When he tried to get the gun, Liakat shot him.

SI Nandadulal told the probe committee that Liakat put a barricade in front of the car. And then, Liakat fired saying shoot, shoot.

However, Liaquat, told the probe committee, “Sinha got out of the car and got excited. Then he shot at me.”

During the probe committee interrogation, Liakat said Sinha placed his right hand on his waist and then aimed the gun and fired the shot.

The probe committee, quoting the statements of others, says that the statement differs. Sinha’s left hand was up, but there are doubts where his right hand was.

Was Liakat frightened?

Liakat told the probe committee that he had to shot for the safety of life and property.

But SI Shahjahan said he wouldn’t have fired the shot that moment.

He blamed Liakat’s inexperience and reliance on the information from sources for the shooting.

Constable Rajib said he couldn’t understand if Sinha would have fired if Liakat had not fired.

When the probe committee asked Nandadulal if Liakat had any risk of his life, he said, “I did not think so.”

Shot to kill

The probe committee thinks Sinha was shot to kill, as per the statements of the witnesses.

The doctor, who conducted the autopsy, said one of the shots was fired from a distance, while the other shots were fired from close range.

The committee asked Liakat how many shots were needed for self-protection, he said, “I did not have time to count that.”

Sinha died without treatment

Suspended OC Pradeep arrived at the spot after around 25 minutes of the incident. Earlier, Sinha was not sent to a hospital, rather he was picked up in a truck 20 minutes later of Parddep's arrival. 

The committee said Sinha died without treatment as it was delayed to send him to hospital.