Bangladeshi death row convict arrested in India: Delhi Police

Delhi Police have arrested a fugitive Bangladeshi national who fled to India after he was sentenced to death for killing a man in Bagerhat in 2005.

Crime Branch of Delhi Police arrested Masoom from Khanpur locality of the Indian capital, Additional Commissioner (Crime) of Police, Delhi Shibesh Singh said without specifying the time of his arrest.

Police sources said Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has been contacted for possible deportation of Masoom, our New Delhi correspondent reports.

Contacted, Bangladesh High Commission sources told The Daily Star today that the officer in the mission handling consular matters was aware of the arrest but there was no official communication from the Indian authorities in this regard so far.

Delhi's Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Bhisham Singh told The Times of India that a man named Sarbar helped Masoom reach India and sheltered him.

Masoom, who married Sarbar's wife after he went missing years ago, had also been using the missing man's identity, sources said.

A special task force under Assistant Commissioner of Police Pankaj Singh is investigating if Masoom was involved in any criminal activity in India.

During interrogation, Masoom reportedly admitted to abducting and killing of Jahidul Islam of Madhya Nalbuniya Bazar in Bangladesh's Bagherhat district in 2005.

According to the Times of India, Jahidul's body was found a few days after his abduction and all the accused were arrested and put on trial. Masoom was found guilty and sentenced to death.

According to Additional Commissioner of Police Shibesh Singh, Masoom was sentenced in 2013.

Coming to India after jumping parole in Bangladesh, Masoom went to Bengaluru and worked at a scrap godown with Sarbar.

Masoom often visited Delhi and was in touch with business acquaintances in Seemapuri locality in east Delhi and Sangam Vihar area of south Delhi for sale and purchase of scraps in the Indian capital.

Delhi Police was tipped off about Masoom and then kept him under watch before he was arrested. A pistol and two cartridges were recovered from Masoom, Shibesh Singh said.

An FIR has been lodged against Masoom under the Foreigners Act and the Arms Act, Bhisham Singh said.

Contacted, Superintendent of Police of Bagerhat Pankoj Chandra Roy said they have heard that Masoom has been arrested in India, but they are yet to receive any official letter in this regard. "We are inquiring into the matter and will take all necessary steps," he told The Daily Star over phone.