It was pre-meditated murder

The family of a youth, recently killed in an alleged shootout in Narayanganj, yesterday demanded proper investigation into the incident, claiming it was a “planned murder”.

“Raju Prodhan was called out of the house by one of his friends, Sabbir, around noon on May 8. The next day, police informed us that he was killed,” deceased's sister Samu Prodhan told reporters at a press conference at Crime Reporters' Association in the capital.

“My brother was not a criminal. Do the injury marks on his body indicate that he was killed in a shootout?” she asked showing reporters some photographs of Raju's body.

The family alleged that Raju was beaten severely before being shot.

“The Rab was used for killing him,” alleged Raju's uncle Rafiqul Islam.

Talking to our Narayanganj correspondent, Maj Manjur Mahede, a company commander of Rab-1, however, denied the allegation. The family can make any allegation as they lost their child, he added.

He said the “shootout” that left Raju dead took place between Rab and criminals when a Rab team went to 300 Feet Road area in Rupganj area after receiving information that a gang of muggers had gathered there.

At the news conference, the family did not respond to a number of queries regarding the occupation of the family. They only said they were already in “a lot of trouble and were getting threats”.

The family, however, said Raju was kidnapped in 2014 by a ward councillor in Rupganj municipality and was rescued with the intervention of a local lawmaker. They did not disclose the name of the councillor.

Raju's mother Yeasmin Begum broke down in tears when Samu was reading out a written statement. “They tortured my son to death. Now all I want is justice."

Raju's father Shamim Prodhan was in tears during the conference and was unable to speak.

Rupganj police charged Raju with attempted murder and rape of a girl. The family however claimed that Raju had a romantic relations with the girl.