Babul mastermind behind Mitu murder: PBI report

Soon after the murder of his wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, former Superintendent of Police (SP) Babul Akter sent Tk three lakh to prime accused Kamrul Islam Sikdar Musa via his business partner, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) said in its final reports submitted to Chattogram Court on Wednesday.

Terming Babul as the "mastermind", the report said he deliberately tried to divert the investigation by giving false information -- linking the murder with militancy.

Citing the final report, PBI's Inspector Santosh Kumar Chakma, also the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case, said, "After the plaintiff of the case -- Babul Akter -- was taken to PBI office, I discussed the FIR, photos of the accused captured from CCTV footages and the deposition of witnesses Sayful Haque and Kazi Al Mamun with Babul.

Sayful is a friend and a business partner of Babul while Mamun is a relative of prime accused Musa, said PBI sources.

"Babul failed to give any clear and relevant answer when he was interrogated. He intentionally denied to recognise his long-known informant Kamrul Islam Musa, fugitive accused of the case, even after seeing his photo captured from CCTV footage," the report said.

He also could not answer why he had sent Tk three lakh to Musa, via Sayful, soon after the murder, it added.

Sayful arranged the money from Babul's share of profits from their business and sent the money via Bkash, said a top PBI official.

The report also stated that "Babul, however, admitted that he had long-standing domestic dispute with his wife over several issues."

"Considering all the issues and evidence, Babul is apparently the main beneficiary of Mitu murder as he made arrangement to send Tk three lakh via his friend to Musa soon after the killing, and intentionally refused to identify his well-trusted and acquainted informant Musa, who led the murder, despite being shown the accused's photos," according to the report.

Moreover, Babul tried to divert the investigation, claiming that militants carried out the killing, said the reports obtained by court sources.

The reports also state that "considering the circumstance, material evidence, post mortem report, firearms' ballistic report, confessional statements of both accused and witnesses under section 161 and 164 of CrPC, and technological analysis, the offences of Babul Akter, the plaintiff of the case, had been primarily proved."

The plaintiff had given misinformation in the case statement, hiding the identities of the accused to save them, Inspector Santosh Chakma wrote in the final report.

PBI submitted the 575-page case documents including the final report of Mitu murder case, filed by Babul Akter with Panchlaish Police Station, before the prosecution section of court at around 12:30pm yesterday.

On Tuesday, two witnesses Sayful Haque and Kazi Al Mamun had given confessional statements under section 161 in the case before a magistrate of Chattogram court.

Later, Babul was shown arrested in the newly registered Mitu murder case, filed by his father-in-law Mossarraf Hossain with Panchlaish Police Station on Wednesday noon. Eight persons including Babul and his informant Musa were made accused in the case.

Nazmul Hasan, superintendent of police (SP) of PBI in Chattogram, told the media, "PBI found evidence of contract killing in Mitu murder. After analysing all the evidence and circumstance it appeared that Babul Akter is the mastermind behind the murder and the plan was executed by the others."

"We have submitted the final report of the previous case which was filed by Babul before the court and took him to five-day remand in the new case for interrogation," he added.