Minni confesses, father claims she's forced

Aysha Siddiqa Minni, wife of slain youth Rifat Sharif, has confessed to her involvement in the much talked-about Rifat murder before a Barguna court.

The court of Barguna judicial magistrate recorded her confessional statement on Friday afternoon, said police inspector Humayun Kabir who is investigating the case.

Minni's father Mozammel Hossain, however, claimed that his daughter was forced to give the confessional statement.

"Minni is sick. She was forced and tortured to record the confessional statement," he said on the court premises.

"My daughter tried to save her husband risking her own life. Was that her crime?" he added.

Pointing his finger to local member of parliament Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, Minni's father said, "It's all Shambhu Babu's game. We are being made scapegoat to save his son Suman Debnath."

On the court premises, Minni was seen guarded by two female police members. Minni was stopped to speak up when she tried to say something to the journalists there.

Earlier on 17 July, Minni was arrested after nearly 13 hours of interrogation.

In a statement, superintendent of police in Barugna, Maruf Hossain, said the investigation officer’s interrogation of Aysha Siddiqa Minni and analysis of the information she provided him appeared to show her involvement in the murder.

On 14 July, Minni addressed a media conference at her father’s residence, where she claimed herself innocent.

She defended herself saying those who created Nayan Bond and the terrorist group Bond 007 in Barguna are trying to divert the murder case to a different direction by accusing her.

"By uploading negative posts, doctored images and comments, a vested quarter has been plotting against me since Rifat's murder. Their main intention is to direct the case to a different course. Because, those who created 007 Bond group are very influential and rich," she told the press conference.

She made the claim after her father-in-law Abdul Halim Sharif, on the earlier day, told a media conference at Barguna press club that Minni was involved in the Rifat killing.

On 26 June, Rifat Sharif was killed in broad daylight in front of Barguna Government College.

On the following day, victim’s father Abdul Halim Sharif filed a lawsuit with Barguna police station against 12. Besides, four-five others unnamed people also were made accused in the case.

Main accused in the case Sabbir Ahmed alias Nayan Bond was killed in what police called a gunfight with them on 2 July.

As of Thursday morning, 15 people have been arrested in connection with the murder.