Murder of ex-Khulna councillor in Cox's Bazar was revenge killing: Police
The ex-councillor is one of the suspects in the murder case of the Khulna extremist leader Huji Shahid. Shahid's nephew Pappu shot the ex-councillor with the help of a woman named Ritu
Highlights:
- Tipu is a suspect in 2015 murder of Khulna extremist leader Huji Shahid
- Pappu, man who shot Tipu, is nephew of Huji Shahid
- Husband of Ritu, woman who planned the murder, was killed during a gunfight with law enforcers
- Police yet to reveal information about Ritu's husband
- Ritu developed close relationship with Tipu over the years and was staying with Tipu at a Cox's Bazar hotel
- Luggage tag from an Imperial Express bus initiates the investigation and subsequent arrest of three over murder
Former Khulna councillor Golam Rabbani Tipu was deliberately shot dead in Cox's Bazar on the night of 9 January, according to the police.
"He was shot in front of Hotel Seagull in Cox's Bazar beach by Sheikh Shahriar Islam Pappu, a man from Khulna," said Superintendent of Cox's Bazar Police Muhammad Rahmat Ullah during a press conference today (15 January).
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The police official said the shooter Pappu is the nephew of Khulna's top terror Shahidul Islam, also known as Huji Shahid.
Huji Shahid was shot dead in October 2015 in Khulna, and Golam Rabbani Tipu was an accused in that murder case.
"The plan to kill Tipu was devised as revenge for the murder of Huji Shahid, as well as due to internal conflict. The entire plan was executed by a woman named Ritu. Another man Golam Rasul played a role in the murder, alongside several others," said the Cox's Bazar police super.
The three suspects — Ritu, 24, Sheikh Shahriar Islam Pappu, 27, and Golam Rasul, 25 — were arrested yesterday (14 January) from Moulvibazar.
During the press conference, the police official said Ritu accompanied the former councillor Tipu to Cox's Bazar on 8 January, a day before the murder. She went to Cox's Bazar for a visit and was staying in the hotel with Tipu.
According to Cox's Bazar police, she could not be found immediately after the murder.
However, investigators found a luggage tag from an Imperial Express bus in the hotel room.
It was on this bus that the murderers had travelled to Cox's Bazar. This one tag initiated the police investigation, eventually leading to the identification of Ritu.
"Efforts were then made to locate her, resulting in her arrest along with two others from the Kapna Hill area in Juri Police Station in Moulvibazar," said the police super.
He said Ritu's husband was killed in a gunfight with law enforcement agencies some time back. She developed a close relationship with councillor Golam Rabbani Tipu over a long period and orchestrated the entire murder plan.
Cox's Bazar police did not identify Ritu's husband or give an exact date of the gunfight in which he was killed.
Rahmat Ullah said Tipu was a defendant in the murder case of Huji Shahid.
"The murder of Huji Shahid and revenge for it was one of the reasons for this killing. Other motives include local political rivalries, ward councillor elections, and other issues," said the Cox's Bazar police super.
Other than the three main accused, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) also arrested Sheikh Iftekhar Hasan Salu, a former councillor from Khulna City Corporation who had come on vacation with Tipu, and Mejbah Ullah Bhutto, a friend from Cox's Bazar on 9 January.
The police super said all arrested individuals have been remanded and sent to court.
"They will be interrogated to gather further information upon receiving court orders," he added.
