Eyes on two verdicts today

Two courts in Sylhet and Khulna are set to deliver verdicts today in the cases filed over the barbaric killings of two teenage boys that stirred a massive outcry at home and abroad.

Having completed the trial procedures in the 13-year-old Sheikh Md Samiul Alam Rajon killing case on October 27, the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Sylhet fixed November 8 for the verdict.

And Khulna Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court that finished trial proceedings on November 1 will give its judgment in sensational Rakib murder case.

On July 8, Rajon was beaten to death by a group of brutes in Kumargaon Bus Stand area of Sylhet Sadar allegedly for trying to steal a rickshaw van. Tied to a pole, he screamed for help, cried for water and begged for his life. But they laughed and jeered at him till the boy went silent, forever. One of them even filmed the horrendous incident and shared it on Facebook.

As for Rakib, also 13 years old, his only 'fault' was that he had left his old garage job and joined elsewhere. For this, he had to die a cruel death.

On August 3, his former employer Md Sharif and his uncle Mintu Mia stripped the boy naked, inserted a high-pressure air pump nozzle into his rectum and filled the body with air. Rakib's intestines tore apart and lungs burst as air filled the abdomen, which killed him later.

RAJON MURDER CASE

Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge Akbar Hossain will deliver the verdict today as per the date he had set earlier, said Public Prosecutor Mafur Ali.

On September 22, the court indicted 13 people on charges of beating Rajon to death. They are Quamrul Islam; Muhit Alam, 32; Shamim Alam, 20; Pavel Islam, 18; Ali Haider alias Ali, 34; Moyna Mia, 45; Nur Ahmed alias Nuru Mia, 20; Dulal Ahmed, 30; Ayaz Ali, 45; Taz Uddin Badal, 28; Firoz Mia, 50; Asmat Ali, 42; and Ruhul Amin, 25.

Among them, Pavel and Taz are on the run.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Rajon's father Azizur Rahman said, "I was waiting for this day. I want capital punishment for my son's killers."

He also demanded departmental probe into the negligence of police in arresting the killers, and sought security for his family.

A sub-inspector of Jalalabad Police Station was withdrawn allegedly for cutting a deal with Quamrul and helping him flee to Saudi Arabia after the killing.

Alamgir Hossain, the then officer-in-charge, and Zakir Hossain, a sub-inspector of the same police station, were also suspended for negligence in arresting killers, illicit financial transaction and misconduct with Rajon's father.

RAKIB MURDER CASE

Dilruba Sultana, judge of Khulna Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, is expected to give her judgment in the case around the noon, victim's lawyer Mominul Islam said.

On September 25, Police pressed charges against Sharif, Mintu and Sharif's mother Beauty Begum, who allegedly aided and abetted the killing.

The three were indicted on October 5.

"We have been able to prove the murder charge against all three accused and hope that the court will give capital punishment to them," Mominul said, adding that verdict within three months of a killing is unprecedented in the country's history.