Special cop team formed to probe Tavella murder

- Special unit of handpicked cops formed

- Cesare shot thrice, ‘in the back’

- Security heightened in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone

A special police unit was formed today to investigate the murder of Italian citizen who was shot dead in Dhaka’s Gulshan diplomatic area.

The unit will comprise of skilled individuals handpicked from different branches of police who will assist in the murder investigation.

Authorities concerned came up with the decision in a special meeting held at police headquarters in Dhaka today, a press release from the office said.

READ: IS link with Italian murder not confirmed: Kamal

The special unit will be headed by Md Rezaul Haider, a special police superintendent of Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Cesare Tavella, the Italian national was shot thrice, post-mortem report says. Photo: Collected

Terrorist group Islamic State (IS) reportedly claimed responsibility of the murder of Italian citizen Tavella Cesare – what Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said was unconfirmed.

SHOT THRICE, AUTOPSY REPORT SAYS

Cesare was shot thrice. Witnesses say motorcycle riding criminals shot him down around 6:15pm yesterday and fled the scene. No one could be identified.

Two of the bullets had gone through his body and a third bullet was found in the flesh, morgue sources said. Most likely, he was shot on the back.

A murder suit was filed with Gulshan Police Station this morning by the victim’s colleague Heleen Saaf van der Beek, country representative of ICCO Corporation.

ALSO READ: EU, UK condemn murder of Italian in Dhaka

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Joint Commissioner Md Monirul Islam is heading the murder probe. With 24 hours in the passing, no one was arrested until 6:00pm today.

“We have taken this murder as a challenge,” said Md Mokhlesur Rahman, acting inspector general of police (IGP), after the meeting at police headquarters. “We will solve the murder and prevent any repetition of the incident”.

HEIGHTENED SECURITY IN DIPLOMATIC ZONE

Today’s meeting in police headquarters also ended up in a decision to increase security in the Gulshan diplomatic zone in Dhaka.

Number of check posts will be increased while there will be more frisking of pedestrians and motorcyclists along the roads, the press release issued said.

Meanwhile, condemnations have flown in from European Union and United Kingdom after the murder. United States and Canada have issued alert for their nationals residing in Bangladesh.