Sinha murder: Liaqat fired the shot and Pradeep confirmed the death, witness says

Suspended police inspector Liaqat Ali shot Major (retd) Sinha Rashed Khan and then former officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station Pradeep Kumar Das confirmed Sinha was dead, an eye witness today told the court in Cox's Bazar.

Witness Hafez Md Amin is a muezzin of Baitul Mamur Jame Mosque. He is a direct eye witness of the murder.

Muezzin Amin gave his statement for one-and-half hours before Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Judges Court Judge Md Ismail Hossain today.

After that, he was cross-examined for three-and-half hours by 15 defence lawyers, our Cox's Bazar staff correspondent reports quoting Public Prosecutor Faridul Alam.

According to court sources, witness Amin told the court, "Baitul Mamur Jame Mosque is located just near the spot where the murder of Major (retd) Sinha occurred. I was working at the mosque as the muezzin and it was the day was after Eid-ul-Azha. I along with some mosque students went to the roof of the mosque to hear the namaj time being announced at that time from the nearby mosque – Shyamlapur Centre Jame Mosque."

 "When we were on the roof, the murder took place. A man with his hands raised up got down from his private car. Inspector Liakat immediately shot him and fired again. After which the man fell on the ground. Later within a few minutes, Teknaf Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Pradeep reached there, kicked the man and confirmed his death by pressing down his (Pradeep) leg on the victim's neck. I knew both Pradeep and Liakat from earlier as they worked at Baharchhara Investigation Centre and Teknaf Police Station."

The court started the third-day of the second phase of testimony around 10:15 am. The proceedings continued till 5:00pm with one-hour break from 2:00pm to 3:00pm.

A total of 15 accused in the murder case were produced before the court at 9:40am. After the court proceedings they were taken to the jail in the afternoon.

According to the case charge sheet, there are a total 83 witnesses.

Major (retd) Sinha was shot dead on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive on July 31, 2020.