Councillor Killing: Rab arrests accused at hospital

An accused in the Cumilla ward councillor murder case was arrested yesterday at Cumilla Medical College Hospital while undergoing treatment, said Rab officials.

Sumon, 32, a resident of Cumilla city's Sujanagar Bou Bazar area, was held around 10:00am, said Maj Mohammad Sakib Hossain, company commander of Rab-11.

Sumon was admitted to the hospital's urology department on November 15, said a hospital source.

The source could not say whether Sumon was outside the hospital on November 22 when Syed Mohammad Sohel, 48, councillor of ward-17, and his close aide Haripada Das, 45, were shot dead by masked gunmen in the councillor's office in the city's Pathuriapara area.

However, no one from the hospital authorities spoke on the issue on the record. 

The councillor's younger brother Syed Mohammad Roman told The Daily Star, "We have heard that Sumon was undergoing treatment at the hospital. But the CCTV footage showed that he was involved in the killing."

Sumon is the number four accused in the murder case filed by Roman with Kotwali Police Station early yesterday.

Twenty-one people, including 11 identified ones, were made accused in the case, said Anwarul Azim, officer-in-charge of the police station.

The 11 accused are: Shah Alam, "Jail Sohel", Sabbir, Sumon, Sajon, Ashikur Roki, Alam, Jishan Mia, Masum, Saimon and Rony, the OC added.

Contacted, Mustafizur Rahman, director of Cumilla Medical College Hospital, said Sumon was arrested at the hospital.

Five others who suffered bullet injuries in the attack are: Awal Hossain Rizu, 23, Rasel, 29, Majedul Haque Badal, 39, Jewel, 40, and Sohel Chowdhury, 43. They were undergoing treatment at the hospital.

All of them are associates of the councillor, said locals.

Councillor Sohel was also the panel mayor of Cumilla City Corporation and president of ward-17 Awami League unit, while Haripada was its member.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at a programme in the capital yesterday said, "Our police force is working. We hope to unveil the reasons behind the killing within a day or two."

Locals said Sumon is the uncle of another accused Shah Alam, who stands accused in different criminal cases, including murder, extortion, drugs and possession of illegal arms.

Besides, Shah Alam's elder brother Mohammad Alam is also involved in yaba trade, claimed locals.

The name of Shah Alam came to the fore after some witnesses of the murder incident claimed that they could identify him among the killers.

His house is just around 50 yards away from the councillor's office where the killing took place.

Locals alleged that Shah Alam has a gang that extorts money from shops in the city's Bou Bazar area.

They, however, could not confirm whether there was any rivalry between councillor Sohel and him.

But Shah Alam's friend Sabbir and his supporters were locked in a clash with those of the slain councillor near the councillor's office on November 15.

Locals said the clash happened as Sabbir was stalking a girl and the councillor's followers protested it.

Apart from Shah Alam, other accused in the double-murder case, including "Jail Sohel", Sabbir and Sajon, stand accused in different criminal cases, said police.

Farooque Ahmed, superintendent of Cumilla police, visited the councillor's house yesterday and assured his family that the killers would be brought to book.