Mitford murder: Court pushes further probe report to 12 March over discrepancies
According to court sources, the court on 20 January had directed a more thorough investigation after identifying flaws and discrepancies in the initial probe.
A Dhaka court has ordered the submission of a further investigation report on 12 March into the murder of scrap dealer Lal Chand alias Sohag in front of Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka in July last year, due to discrepancies in the initial probe.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nazmin Akter set the date for the submission of the comprehensive report today (8 February) after a hearing.
According to court sources, the court on 20 January had directed a more thorough investigation after identifying flaws and discrepancies in the initial probe.
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The report was due today, but the investigating officer could not submit the full findings.
As a result, Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station Shah Md Faisal Ahmed requested an extension of 15 working days to complete the additional investigation.
The request stated that the case was originally investigated by former officer-in-charge, Police Inspector Md Moniruzzaman, who submitted the charge sheet to the court on 8 December.
Following the discovery of discrepancies in the initial investigation, the police provided a brief under Police Regulation 444. The additional investigation is ongoing to address these flaws. Extending the investigation period is considered necessary to ensure a proper, impartial investigation and to record testimony from key witnesses.
According to the case, on 9 July at around 6pm, a group of people attacked Sohag with stones and machetes, brutally killing him on the paved road near the Mitford Hospital.
The next day, on 10 July, the victim's elder sister Manjuara Begum filed a murder case at Kotwali Police Station against 19 people, and 15-20 unnamed individuals were also included as accused.
After the investigation, on 8 December, the investigating officer of Kotwali Police Station (now Shahbagh), Md Moniruzzaman, submitted a charge sheet against 21 people.
The officer also recommended acquittal for ten accused due to lack of evidence. Among the accused, 13 are in jail and eight remain absconding.
