Journalist Tuhin murder case: One suspect confesses to killing

One of the eight suspects held in connection with the killing of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin in Gazipur has confessed in court to taking part in the murder.

Shahjalal, 32, from Antapur village in Homna upazila of Cumilla, admitted his involvement before Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Court-3 Judge Omar Haider yesterday afternoon, police said.

The confession was recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Confirming the confession, Gazipur Metropolitan Court Police Inspector Ahsan Ullah Chowdhury said last Saturday, police produced the seven accused in the journalist murder before the court, seeking a 10-day remand. But the court granted two days remand. 

"After interrogation, the seven were brought to court at around 2:30pm today under tight security. Among them, Shahjalal voluntarily agreed to give a confessional statement in court. 

"He gave a detailed account of his role in the killing and named others involved," Inspector Ahsan said.

According to a source at the Gazipur Metropolitan Police, Shahjalal, in his statement, said he was involved in yaba trading and also committed robberies by ambushing people. 

On 7 August, he, along with Mizan, Swadhin, Suman, Arman, Faisal, and Alamin, was taking yaba when Mizan's wife, Golapi, called Mizan and informed him that a man had been spotted near Shapla Mansion from whom they could extort money through threats.

Within a short time, they headed towards Shapla Mansion armed with machetes, cleavers, and switchblade knives, and found Golapi scuffling with the man (Badsha Mia). They rushed in and began hacking him indiscriminately. 

The man, after being struck, ran into a grocery store (pharmacy). At that point, Golapi shouted that journalist Tuhin was recording a video.

Immediately, they stopped attacking the man and chased Tuhin. In front of a tea stall, Mizan struck him with a cleaver. 

As Tuhin ran into the shop after the first blow, Swadhin, Suman, Arman, Al Amin, and Faisal attacked him indiscriminately. Mizan then took the journalist's mobile phone from his pocket. 

When Golapi shouted that the police were coming, they all fled the scene, according to Shahjalal's statement to the court.

The other accused did not agree to confess, and police did not seek further remand for their interrogation. Therefore, the court ordered all the accused to be sent to prison, Inspector Ahsan added.

However, earlier, one of the accused, Al Amin, denied involvement and claimed he was framed. He alleged that local figures – including individuals named Arif, Momtaz, and "Black Shaheen" – hired them for Tk7,000 to carry out the attack but did not participate themselves. 

Police sources say "Black Shaheen" faces 19 criminal cases and reportedly has links to a former Gazipur mayor. An anonymous police officer suggested that the murder might be part of a larger, organised plot.

The other detainees are – Mizan alias Ketu Mizan, 35, of Jamalpur's Melandah; his wife Golapi, 25; Md Swadhin, 28, of Pabna's Faridpur; Al Amin, 21, of Khulna's Sonadanga; Md Foysal Hasan, 23, of Pabna's Chatmohar; and a man named Suman. 

Md Zahidul Hasan, additional police commissioner (administration and finance) of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said a total of eight people have been arrested in the journalist murder case after being identified through CCTV footage, all locals involved in various criminal activities.

Six were held by the police, and two by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

According to police, two separate cases have been filed over the incident – one by Tuhin's elder brother and another by the brother of Badsha Mia, who was injured in the initial attack. 

Tuhin, 38, a staff reporter for the daily Protidiner Kagoj, was hacked and had his throat slit near a tea stall inside Masjid Market at the busy Chandna Chowrasta intersection around 8pm last Thursday. 

He lived in a rented flat in Gazipur with his wife and two sons, and was originally from Vhatipara village in Fulbaria, Mymensingh.