Rajshahi Raid: Police failure to blame for fireman's death

The death of a fireman during the Rajshahi militant den raid was a result of the failure of law enforcers, a fire service probe has found.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Nurul Islam, deputy director of fire service and civil defence in Rajshahi, said their probe found policemen responsible for ensuring safety to the fireman "could not perform efficiently".

"It wasn't the firemen's duty to combat militants; police called them for their assistance, but failed to protect him [the firefighter]," said Nurul, who heads a five-member committee investigating the death of the firefighter.

Five alleged militants, including four of a family, were killed during the raid codenamed "Sun Devil" at Benipur of Godagari upazila on May 11.

"The footage clearly shows police members were a bit unprepared for sudden suicidal attacks," he said, adding that two policemen guarding the firemen were seen turning back when attackers came out of the den.

On their knees 100 yards off the den, three firefighters were spraying water on the clay-made wall of a tin-roofed house where the "militants" were holed up. Two of the firemen ran off safe, but Abdul Matin, 43, of Matikata Vata village of Godagari, slipped on wet ground. 

Matin, a father of two, was critically injured as a "militant" exploded his suicide vest and others attacked him with sharp weapons. He was declared dead at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. 

Superintendent of Rajshahi police Moazzem Hossain Bhuiyan, who led operation "Sun Devil", termed Matin's death a "bad luck and operational accident". He said police announced Tk 10 lakh compensation for his death.

In a press release emailed journalists on Sunday night, the SP gave details of the 36-hour operation and said, “Policemen always risk their lives to save colleagues, and there was no exception on that day."

Police showed professionalism through arresting a female "militant" alive and rescuing her two children unhurt, the release added.

Police decided to spray water on the militant den as part of their "well-planned operational strategy" after "militants" refused to respond to their call for surrender.

The footage shows Matin was in police protection, but "militants" attacked him even after they had been shot, it claims.

The release also says militants' coming out of the den and carrying out suicide attacks was a new experience for police.

Police fired from a submachine gun (SMG) and three pistols as soon as five militants, Sazzad Ali, his wife Lutfunnesa Bely, son Al Amin and daughter Karima, and BSc student Ashraful, emerged from the den, brandishing local weapons.

Shot, Al Amin fell near Matin and then detonated his suicide vest. The blast blew off Matin's left ear and also hurt three policemen. In the meantime, Karima and Bely exploded three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), targeting police.

A sub-inspector shot Sazzad when he attacked Matin with a pointed rod. Police also shot Bely, who attacked him with a sickle, and Karima, who attacked Matin with a knife.

Fire service probe team chief Nurul disagreed with the police claim that "militants" had attacked Matin even after being shot.

Law enforcers might have opened fire, but missed targets, he said.

Police might have delayed going after the "militants" as water was being sprayed, he said, agreeing on police explanation of "operational accident".

He also added that they had completed the investigation and were going to publish a report next week.