Panchagarh Priest Killing: Four militants handed death penalty
Militant outfit Neo-JMB's key leader Jahangir Hossain alias Rajib alias Andhi was yesterday handed the death penalty by a Rajshahi court for the 2016 murder of Hindu priest Joggeswar Dasadhikari Roy of Panchagarh.
Announcing the verdict, Rajshahi's Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Anup Kumar also handed death penalty to three other militants of the banned outfit for the same murder, public prosecutor of the court Entajul Haque said.
Among three convicts, Rajibul Islam Molla alias Badhan alias Badal has been absconding since the murder.
Two other convicts Alamgir Hossain and Ramzan Ali along with Alam were present in the court dock during announcement of the verdict.
All four convicts were given 15 years of imprisonment for using firearms and explosives in the attack, the public prosecutor said.
Jogeswar Dasadhikari, 50, a priest of Sri Sri Shonto Gaurio Temple at Debiganj upazila's Sonapota area was killed by unknown criminals on early morning of February 21, 2016.
The criminals slit the priest's throat after attacking the temple.
Two devotees were also injured in the attack as the criminals fired bullets and used improvised explosive devices (IED) while fleeing.
The attack was part of a series of attacks against liberal religious groups and free thinkers plotted by the banned militant outfit, said the public prosecutor.
Within hours of the murder, SITE, an intelligence group, on its website news.siteintelgroup.com said, Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for killing the priest, but local authorities denied the presence of IS in the country.
The priest's brother Rabindranath Roy filed a murder case with Debiganj police station against unnamed criminals. The police recorded two other cases under arms and explosives laws in connection to the attack.
Later in November 2016, the police pressed charges against ten militants in the cases.
Three of the accused persons in the cases were killed in 'crossfire' with the law enforcers before beginning trial in the case.
In the verdict, three other accused -- Harej Ali, Khalilur Rahman and Md Rana were acquitted.
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