16 policemen withdrawn in connection with killing of retired army officer

Sixteen members of the Baharchhara police post (fari), including its in-charge sub-inspector Liakat, have been withdrawn in connection with the killing of a retired army major in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazaar on Friday night.

An official of Cox's Bazar district police confirmed this to Prothom Alo.

The former army officer, Sinha Rashed Khan, was killed in a firing following an altercation with police, who halted his vehicle and attempted a search while he was coming to Cox’s Bazar from Teknaf in his private vehicle with another person around 10:30pm.

The government has formed a three-member probe body headed by a deputy secretary to look into the matter. A representative of Cox's Bazar district police and an army officer from the 10th Infantry Division would make the committee.

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the probe committee would file its report in due time and they would then act accordingly.

Police claimed they opened fire as the army officer brandished his pistol. He was seriously injured and was taken to Cox’s Bazaar Sadar Hospital where on-duty physicians declared him dead.

Cox’s Bazaar Sadar Hospital residential physician Shahin Abdur Rahman told Prothom Alo that the former army officer died prior to reaching the hospital. An autopsy was performed on Saturday morning.

Cox’s Bazaar police superintendent ABM Masud Hossain said residents in Shamlapur had contacted police, alleging that there were robbers in the vehicle. Police then tried to stop the vehicle at the check post. As the passenger of the vehicle endeavored to open fire on police, they retaliated in self-defence. The man was killed in the firing.

The SP also said two cases have already been filed in connection with the incident. Two people were arrested and the pistol was seized. Police later search the vehicle and recovered 50 yaba pills, cannabis, and two bottles of foreign liquor.