Police have arrested three more suspects in connection with the Refat Shorif murder case. The suspects are: Tanvir, Md Sagar, and Kamrul Hasan Saimum. Among them, Sagar has recently cleared the exam for recruiting police constables. Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said action will be taken if negligence of any member of the police force is found in the Rifat murder case.
"Those involved in the incident won't be spared and a bit more time will be needed to arrest the attackers," the minister said. Earlier, police arrested Chandan and Md Hasan, whose name was in the 'ejahar', and Md Nazmul as a suspect. So far, six people have been arrested in the connection with the murder. Speaking at a media briefing, Barguna police superintendent (SP) Md Maruf Hossain yesterday said the recent arrests were made during raids across Barguna, Patuakhali and Dhaka between Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Tanvir was arrested from Barguna town on Saturday, while Fahimul and Sagor were arrested from Patuakhali town and Dhaka, respectively, on Sunday morning. Abdul Halim Dulal Sharif, father of the slain Rifat, had filed complaints with the police, accusing 12 persons for his son's
murder. They are: Sabbir Ahmed alies Nayan Bond, Md Rifat Farazi, Md Rishan Farazi, Chandan, Md Musa, Md Rabbi Akan, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, Raihan, Md Hasan, Rifat, Oli, Tiktok Hridoy, and five to six unidentified persons.
The SP said Sagar has recently cleared the exam to recruit police constables. Sagar, son of retired school teacher Abdul Latif of Paschim Amtalapar area in Barguna town, was selected for a constable post in Barguna police. He was arrested when he went the Barguna Police Lines this morning to attend the medical test for the recruitment.
Since Sagar has been arrested in a criminal case, he would not be considered for police service, the SP added. Sagor, however, denied involvement in the murder during primary interrogation, the SP said.
The SP also said that detaining a criminal is a technical matter. “We are working on this case day and night. I have faith in my team. I can say convincingly that we'll arrest the accused soon,” he added.
However, the Sp did not disclose the name of the persons who were detained only for interrogation. UNB adds: Talking to reporters at the secretariat, the home minister yesterday said, "Killing a young man in broad day light is not acceptable to us. It is a heinous crime."
Replying to a question, Asaduzzaman, said, "Anyone who commits crimes will be punished, no matter which political party he or she belongs to." Replying to another question, he said those involved in drug peddling will be brought to book as Prime Miniser Sheikh Hasina announced zero tolerance against drug.
Police sources say that the gruesome killing of Barguna youth Rifat Sharif was pre-planned. On June 26, Rifat was hacked in front of his wife in front of Barguna College. Rifat’s Wife, Ayesha Siddika Minni, tried desperately to stop the killers but failed to save his husband. The crime happened in front of hundreds of people, though no one intervened to save Rifat.