Liaqat shot Major Sinha 4 times, mastermind Pradeep ensured death by stepping on his neck: HC full verdict
In its judgement, the HC upheld the death sentences of Pradeep and Liaqat for killing Sinha and confirmed the life imprisonment of six others convicted by the trial court.
The High Court, in the full text of its verdict, has observed that Pradeep Kumar Das — then officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station — masterminded the killing of former army officer Major (retd) Sinha Md Rashed Khan, while then sub-inspector Liaqat Ali carried out the execution by firing four shots at him.
"It has been proved beyond all reasonable doubt that accused Pradeep Kumar Das was the mastermind and planner of the murder. He was present at the scene and struck the victim on the chest, fracturing two ribs, and pressed his left foot, wearing shoes, onto the left side of the victim's neck to ensure his death," the bench of Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain said in the 378-page full verdict released today (23 November).
"Since co-accused Liaqat Ali, following the prior plan, appeared at the scene and fired four shots at the victim with the intention to kill him, the trial court has correctly imposed the maximum punishment of death under Section 302 of the Penal Code," the verdict read.
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The bench made the observation after analysing witness testimonies, prosecution documents, confessional statements, and circumstantial evidence.
With the full text now published, the convicts may file appeals with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court within 30 days, court sources said.
The HC bench had delivered its judgement on 2 June this year after hearing the death reference and the appeals filed by the convicts challenging the trial court's verdict.
In its judgement, the HC upheld the death sentences of Pradeep and Liaqat for killing Sinha and confirmed the life imprisonment of six others convicted by the trial court.
The six are: former SI Nanda Dulal Rakshit, ex-constables Sagar Deb and Rubel Sharma, and police informants Md Nezamuddin, Md Nurul Amin, and Md Ayaz Uddin. All eight convicts remain in jail.
In the full text, the court said the charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and common intention against Nanda Dulal, Sagar, Rubel, Nurul, Ayaz, and Nezam were proven beyond reasonable doubt. The trial court, after assessing their roles, sentenced them to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty under Section 302.
"We find this to be proper and justified; therefore, there is no scope to interfere with the impugned judgement," the HC said.
The verdict describes how Sinha arrived in Cox's Bazar on 2 July 2020 with associates Sahedul Islam Sifat (PW-2), Shipra Debnath, and Rupti to film scenic content for his YouTube channel "Just Go".
During their interaction with the locals they came to know about a range of alleged illegal activities involving then OC Pradeep and some subordinates — including extortion, enforced disappearances, and so-called "crossfire" killings.
"The victim recorded testimonies of the victims of these incidents, which is proven by the evidence of PW-15, PW-16, PW-18, and PW-20. When Pradeep learned of this through his informants, he threatened Major Sinha in mid-July 2020 and ordered him to stop such activities and leave the area," the HC said.
Major Sinha didn't pay heed and continued recording testimonies.
According to the verdict, on 31 July 2020, when Sinha and Sifat were returning to Nilima Resort after filming at Marishbuniya Moinna Hill, accused Nezam Uddin used the loudspeaker of Ummul Qur'an Jame Mosque to announce that the duo were "dacoits", intending to incite locals to beat them to death.
"This act, along with the entire chain of events leading to the killing, is supported by multiple confessional statements and witness testimonies," the HC said.
