Shammo murder: Police claim breakthrough, but questions linger

Dhaka University student Shahriar Alam Shammo was murdered at Suhrawardy Udyan after an altercation with associates of alleged drug dealer Mehedi over a taser gun, police said. 

Police have arrested 11 people, including the prime suspect, but many critical questions remain unanswered following a press briefing by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) today.

For instance, police have yet to determine the exact motive for the murder or identify all individuals involved.

According to the DMP, the murder occurred on 13 May at around 11:45pm. A murder case was promptly filed at Shahbagh Police Station, and three suspects – Tamim Hawlader, 30, Samrat Mallik, 28 and Palash Sardar, 30 – were arrested the same night from various locations in Dhaka. Due to the seriousness of the case, the case was later transferred to the Detective Branch (DB).

Speaking at today's press conference, DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjad Ali said that based on confessions, intelligence inputs, and technology-driven investigations, eight more suspects were arrested from Cox's Bazar, Munshiganj, and different parts of Dhaka.

The newly arrested individuals are: Md Rabbi alias Kabutar Rabbi, 25, Mehedi Hasan, 25, Nahid Hasan Papel, 21, Md Ripon, 20, Md Sohag, 33, Md Robin, 18, Md Hridoy Islam, 24, and Sujan Sarkar, 27.

Based on Mehedi's information, police recovered two Swiss Gear knives allegedly used in the murder, which were hidden near the Mausoleum of the Three Leaders, also known as the Suhrawardy Udyan National Memorial.

According to DB officials, three drug-dealing groups operate inside Suhrawardy Udyan. One of these, led by Mehedi, was involved in the incident. 

On the night of the murder, Shammo and two friends entered the park on motorcycles and noticed a taser gun in Rabbi's possession. When Shammo inquired about it, an altercation broke out. More members of the group soon joined in, escalating the confrontation into a deadly assault.

DB Joint Commissioner Mohammad Nasirul Islam said Shammo initially went to the park for food from late-night stalls. 

However, when reporters pointed out there were no stalls near the crime scene, he said the investigation is still ongoing.

When asked about the motive, Nasirul said the killing appeared to be spontaneous, though he did not rule out the possibility of premeditation. Further investigation, he added, would determine if the act was planned.

He also said that Mehedi's group controls one of three drug-trade zones within the park. On the night of the incident, Mehedi reportedly brought the knives in a black bag and distributed them among his associates.

Shammo's elder brother, Sardar Aminul Islam, who was present at the briefing, expressed dissatisfaction with the law enforcers' explanation.

"Police didn't even inform us about the press conference," he said.

"They're calling the murder impulsive, but media reports mention that one of the suspects confessed the main accused was escorted out of the park on a bike and joined another group afterwards," Aminul added.