Gunmen came to kill another man, ended up fatally shooting Jubo Dal activist in Kafrul: Police
According to DB officials, several armed men opened fire at about 11:10pm on 24 July.
Police have so far arrested seven people over the fatal shooting of Jubo Dal activist Md Yusuf in Dhaka's Kafrul area, claiming gunmen had travelled to the capital to kill another man but ended up shooting him during a confrontation.
The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Mirpur Division, working with Kafrul police, announced the arrests after investigating the killing of Yusuf, who died in the shooting near the Link Road beside Opex Garments on the night of 24 July.
Police identified the arrested suspects as Md Nahid Hasan, 21, Md Shafin Ahmed, 22, Md Ziarul Molla, 39, Md Ali Hossain, 45, Md Jihad Molla, 30, Md Masum Billah, 28, and Md Abir Hawlader, 25.
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According to DB officials, several armed men opened fire at about 11:10pm on 24 July.
The shooting left Yusuf, vegetable vendor Nalam Sardar and Md Monir Hossain with gunshot wounds.
Local people rushed the three men to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared Yusuf dead.
Nalam Sardar and Monir Hossain continue to receive treatment.
Locals caught one armed suspect while he tried to flee and turned him over to Kafrul police.
Police recovered a foreign-made pistol and four rounds of ammunition from his possession.
Yusuf's elder brother later filed a murder case at Kafrul Police Station.
On 25 July, a DB team arrested Nahid and Shafin in Mirpur.
Acting on information gathered during questioning, detectives arrested Ziarul in Arpara under Shalikha Police Station in Magura and Ali Hossain in Mirpur.
Kafrul police later arrested Jihad in Shariatpur and Masum Billah in Bagharpara, Jessore.
Local people allegedly beat Abir Hawlader before handing him over to police.
DB officials said preliminary questioning indicated that the alleged mastermind, Hafizur Rahman Hafiz, also known as "CNG Hafiz", hired professional killers to murder his rival, Hafizul Islam Babu.
Investigators said Hasan, Ziarul, Chanchal, Jihad and two or three unidentified associates travelled to Dhaka on 29 June and met CNG Hafiz.
They stayed in Room 714 of Baishakhi Hotel in Mirpur-10 before gathering at Hafiz's garage. Police said Hafiz's manager, Nahid, collected two pistols from Abir Hawlader and brought them to the garage.
An accidental discharge occurred while Hafiz loaded one of the weapons, prompting the group to abandon the plan that day.
The suspects later identified Hafizul Islam Babu's office and returned to their home districts after receiving an advance payment of Tk50,000 from CNG Hafiz.
Police said the group returned to Dhaka on 22 July on Hafiz's instructions and stayed in Room 608 of Sonali Hotel in Mirpur-2.
The following evening, they gathered again at Hafiz's garage. Investigators said Jihad collected two loaded pistols from Nahid and handed one to Ziarul and the other to Chanchal.
Ziarul, Chanchal, Hasan, Jihad, Masum Billah and two or three unidentified associates then took up positions outside Hafizul Islam Babu's office to carry out the planned attack.
According to investigators, Shafin, an employee of CNG Hafiz, and Ali Hossain, a relative of Ziarul, monitored the area, helped the suspects escape and kept them informed about police activity and the situation after the shooting.
Police said Hafizul Islam Babu stood outside his office with supporters at about 11pm on the night of the incident when he noticed several unfamiliar men and questioned them.
As he attempted to search them, one of the suspects allegedly pulled out a pistol and opened fire. Yusuf suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and later died.
