3 more arrested over journalist Tuhin murder in Gazipur
So far, seven people, including a woman, have been arrested over the brutal killing in public.
Police arrested three more suspects late last night (8 August) in connection with the brutal killing of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin, who was hacked to death at Chandna Chowrasta area of Gazipur two days ago.
With the latest arrests, a total of seven people, including a woman, are now in police custody over the incident.
The arrests were made during raids in various parts of the metropolitan area, following identification of the suspects from CCTV camera footage of the incident, confirmed Gazipur Metropolitan Police's (GMP) Additional Commissioner (Crime) Taherul Haque Chowhan today (9 August).
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The newly arrested individuals are Shahjalal, 32, Faisal Hasan, 23, and Sumon, 26. Earlier, police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) had detained Md Mizan alias Ketu Mizan, 35, his wife Golapi, 25, Md Swadhin, 28, and Md Al Amin, 21.
According to police, all seven live in rented houses in the area under Gazipur city's Sadar Metro Police Station and are involved in various crimes, including mugging.
Several of them have prior criminal cases. Following the murder, joint operations by GMP's Detective Branch (DB), Bason Police Station, and RAB were conducted in Gazipur, surrounding districts, and Dhaka's Turag area to arrest the accused, said Taherul.
Meanwhile, GMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC - North Crime) Rabiul Hasan told BSS the details regarding the arrests will be shared at a press conference.
He said DB arrested Mizan, Golapi and Sumon from Bhabanipur in Sadar Upazila of Gazipur. Bason police arrested Al Amin from the Turag area of Dhaka's Uttara, while RAB arrested Swadhin from the Hotapara area of Gazipur Sadar Upazila.
Shahjalal was arrested from Char Masland Moralpara under the Gafargaon Police Station of Mymensingh district, and Faisal was arrested from Gazipur, reports BSS.
What CCTV footage showed
CCTV footage revealed that the incident on 7 August night began when a woman, later identified as Golapi, was used to lure and engage a man in an argument, police said.
At one stage, armed assailants attacked the man with sharp weapons. Tuhin, who witnessed the attack and began recording it on his phone, was confronted by the attackers. Following an altercation, they chased and fatally hacked him.
The footage showed Mizan, wearing a cap and carrying a machete, running towards the victim, while Swadhin was seen holding a machete and wearing a white shirt with jeans.
Police have confirmed that Mizan and Golapi are a married couple.
Earlier, Bason police Officer-in-Charge Shahin Khan said two cases have been filed, one by Tuhin's elder brother, Md Selim, and the other by the brother of Badsha Mia, who was injured in a separate attack shortly before Tuhin's killing.
Asaduzzaman Tuhin, 38, was the Gazipur staff reporter for Dainik Protidiner Kagoj. Originally from Mymensingh's Fulbaria upazila, he lived in Gazipur city with his wife, Farida Akhter and their two sons.
According to police and witnesses, the fatal attack on Tuhin took place near his office at Masjid Market.
The assailants had chased Tuhin, when they saw he was recording the attack on Badsha Mia, into a nearby tea shop and hacked him to death before fleeing. While the chase was captured by nearby CCTV cameras, the hacking was not.
Police later recovered Tuhin's body and sent it to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for autopsy.
GMP ADC Rabiul Islam said, "Preliminary evidence suggests Tuhin was killed for recording the incident. We have identified the assailants through CCTV and intelligence."
Badsha, who is receiving hospital treatment, claimed the woman was part of a gang that had stolen Tk30,000 from him.
Local sources allege the attackers are known criminals, including Faisal alias Ketu Mizan, and others named Shah Jamal, Bullet, and Sujon.
Eyewitness and colleague Shamim Hossain said Tuhin had called him shortly before the incident. "A man and a woman got into a fight near the Masjid Market. A group attacked the man with sharp weapons.
"Tuhin started filming, but the attackers noticed and chased him into a tea stall, where they killed him," he said.
Tuhin laid to rest, demand for justice grows
The autopsy of Tuhin's body was completed at Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital yesterday morning.
Later in the day, after the Jummah prayer, his funeral was held at the Eidgah ground in the Chandna Chowrasta area of Gazipur city, where he was killed.
Locals staged a protest in the Chandana area on 7 August night, demanding justice for Tuhin.
Members of the Gazipur Journalist Union also staged a protest yesterday, demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
Gazipur BNP General Secretary M Manjurul Karim Rony condemned the killing and urged a thorough investigation.
Yesterday, in Dhaka and elsewhere, journalist organisations held protests demanding swift justice over Tuhin's murder.
Protests were also held this morning in various districts, demanding exemplary punishment for the killers.
