Chhoto Sajjad, his wife among accused in Ctg double murder case

A case was filed on Tuesday evening, two days after a double murder in Chattogram city in which two individuals were shot dead in a private car. 

Seven suspects, including "Chhoto Sajjad," a top criminal on a police list, and his wife, along with six to seven unidentified persons were accused in the case lodged with the Bakalia police station by Firoza Begum, mother of one of the victims, Bakhtiar Hossain Manik, Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Mahmudul Hasan Mamun of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police's South Zone told TBS.

According to the case statement, Manik was employed as a driver for Sarwar Hossain Babla, while the other victim, Abdullah, assisted Sarwar in his personal affairs. On the night of 29 March, Manik, Sarwar, Abdullah and a few others were hanging out near the New Bridge area. As they headed home towards Bahaddarhat, their vehicle was ambushed near the Rajakhali Bridge by assailants on six to seven motorcycles, who opened fire on the car.

In an attempt to escape, Manik drove towards Chawk Bazar via Bakalia Access Road. Around 2:15am on Sunday, upon reaching Nawab Siraj-ud-Doula Road in Chawk Bazar, the attackers fired indiscriminately, injuring both Manik and Abdullah. Sarwar and another passenger, Imon, managed to flee. The wounded victims were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead.

Gang rivalry behind attack?

Robin, one of the survivors of the incident who is undergoing treatment at the hospital, said the attack was a result of long-standing rivalry between Chhoto Sajjad and Sarwar, also a listed criminal. Their conflict escalated recently over control in local politics and Sajjad's recent arrest, he said.

Abdullah's mother, Rasheda Begum, said Sajjad had previously shot Abdullah in the leg two months ago in Rauzan upazila of Chattogram. Fearing for his life, Abdullah had remained indoors since then and had only stepped out that day for Eid shopping.