9 more sent to jail

Nine more charge-sheeted accused in the case for killing journalist Abdul Hakim Shimul were sent to Sirajganj jail through a Shahjadpur court on Tuesday when they appeared before it and sought bail.

“The nine accused went into hiding after the incident. They appeared before the Court of Shahjadpur Senior Judicial Magistrate Hasibul Haque and sought bail on Tuesday. The court sent them to jail, rejecting their bail prayer,” said Khaza Golam Kibria, officer-in-charge of Shahjadpur Police Station.

The accused -- Kontho Ghosh, 48, Nityananda Roy, 46, Jahir Pramanik, 32, Jahidul Mollah, 36, Manik Sarkar, 28, Manik Hossain, 35, Rabiul Islam, 30, Md Pijush, 45, and Kalu Pramanik, 30, - - are close associates of detained mayor Halimul Haque Miru, one of the prime accused.

Shimul, Shahjadpur correspondent of the daily Samakal, was shot during an AL factional clash near the municipality mayor's house on February 2 this year. He succumbed to his injuries on the way to Dhaka the following day.

Shimul's wife Nurunnahar Begum filed a case with Shahjadpur Police Station on February 3, accusing 25 people, including Miru and his brother Habibul Haque Mintu.

Earlier, seven accused were sent to jail after they appeared before a court on August 22, while 14 accused were arrested at different times. A total of 30 accused are now in jail and eight more are on the run, police said.