RAB arrests chargesheeted accused Sukanta Dutta in lawyer Alif murder case

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested Sukanta Dutta, a fugitive chargesheeted accused in the murder case of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, who was killed inside the Chattogram court premises.

Sukanta Dutta, 30, was arrested yesterday (19 December) from the Nilachal Joint Farm area under Bandarban Sadar Police Station. He is the son of Pradeep Dutta of Purba Barkhain area in Anwara upazila of Chattogram. The arrest was confirmed by ARM Mozaffor Hossain, assistant director of Chattogram RAB.

The court had ordered on 6 December, 18 fugitive chargesheeted accused in the Alif murder case to surrender within 30 days. The court also directed that newspaper notices be published as part of the process to begin trial in absentia if the accused failed to appear within the stipulated time. Sukanta Dutta was among the 18 accused.

State prosecutor and Assistant Public Prosecutor of the Chattogram Metropolitan Court Md Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury, said that of the total 39 accused named in the case, 22, including Sukanta, have so far been arrested and are currently in jail, while 17 accused remain at large.

"Once the deadline mentioned in the newspaper notice expires, the case will be sent to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court for judicial proceedings. The trial will formally begin there through the framing of charges," he added.

The murder took place on 26 November last year following the rejection of bail for Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in a sedition case. After the bail denial, his followers unleashed violence inside the Chattogram court premises, creating chaos and vandalising vehicles.

During the unrest, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was brutally attacked on Rangam Convention Hall Road under Kotwali Police Station. According to case records, he was hacked and beaten to death by followers of Chinmoy Das using sticks, bricks, machetes, and sharp weapons.