Hoshi Murder: 7 JMB men Indicted

A Rangpur court yesterday framed charges against seven members of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) for killing Japanese national Kunio Hoshi  in Kaunia upazila in October last year.    

Special Judge's Court of Noresh Chandra Sarkar fixed January 4 for recording statements of the witnesses in the case.

Abdul Kader Zilani, officer-in-charge of Kaunia Police Station and also investigation officer of the case, filed the charge sheet with the court of Ariful Islam against eight JMB militants on July 3, said Rothish Chandra Bhowmik, public prosecutor of the Special Judge's Court.

The charge-sheeted JMB members are Masud Rana, Ishaq Ali, Liton Mia, Abu Syed, Saddam Hossain, Ahsan Ullah Ansari, Nazrul Islam and Shakhawat Hossain.

Nazrul Islam alias Bike Nazrul, one of the charge-sheeted accused, was killed in a "shootout" with members of the Rapid Action Battalion in Rajshahi this August.

The case was shifted to Rangpur District and Sessions Judge's Court on October 13. Later, it was transferred to the Special Judge's Court on October 26.

Police have arrested five of the eight JMB militants, and they are now in Rangpur jail.

Saddam Hossain and Ahsan Ullah Ansari are yet to be arrested.

Three gunmen shot 66-year-old Kunio Hoshi dead on October 3 last year in Alutari village of Kaunia upazila.