Aug 21 suspects cross-examined

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) brought detained former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, banned Islamic group Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) founder Moulana Sheikh Abdus Salam and present Huji Chief Mufti Abdul Hannan face to face for cross checking their statements in the August 21 grenade attack case.

Sources said, the three who are being interrogated at the CID's Malibagh headquarters were brought face to face for several times.

Besides, as the five-day remand for Babar ended yesterday, the CID would produce him before the court today seeking a fresh remand.

Senior ASP Abdul Kahar Akand of CID, the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case, summoned the then chiefs of the National Security Intelligence (NSI), Special Branch (SB) and CID for appearing at the CID headquarters, sources said.

According to sources, the IO also sought internal reports of the three intelligence agencies on the grenade attack incident to review it.

CID sources said they would also bring Huji founder Salam and Huji Chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and two other detained leaders--Jewel and Tamim Hossain--face to face within this week to cross check their statements.

Sources said the CID already has issued letters to the CID, SB and NSI authorities seeking their internal reports on the incident as well as to the then chiefs of the three agencies. But the CID could not send letter to the then NSI boss as he remains detained in connection with the Chittagong arms haul case.

Talking to The Daily Star, IO Abdul Kahar Akand said, "We have been quizzing Lutfozzaman Babar, Mufti Abdul Hannan and Abdus Salam spontaneously and bringing them face to face gradually."

Replying to a query, the IO said, "We may ask any person to appear at the CID office for the sake of investigation."

Special Superintendent (SS-Metro) Meer Shahidul Islam of the CID told The Daily Star, "The CID is going to pray before the court tomorrow (Wednesday) for a fresh remand for Babar for further grilling."

Sources said the CID needs further remand for Babar as names of some influential persons were disclosed by Babar, Salam and Hannan. The influential persons would also be summoned for quizzing and brought face to face.

According to sources, among the detained Huji leaders, CID sorted out Hannan, Jewel and Tamim as the important persons and, therefore, the CID decided to bring them in front of Salam for justifying their statements.

Meanwhile, IO of the August 21 grenade attack investigation misleading case ASP Rownakul Huq Chowdhury on Monday cross-checked the statements of detained BNP leader Babar and former ASP Ruhul Amin of CID, who was an IO during the BNP-led four-party alliance government.

ASP Rownakul Huq told The Daily Star, "Former SS Ruhul Amin and ASP Abdur Rashid came to the CID office to face grilling while Ruhul Amin was brought in front of Babar for cross checking their statements."

Former ASP Munshi Atiqur Rahman could not come to the CID office due to his seekness but he would come on next Sunday, ASP Rownak said.