Rifat murder: 2 more accused held

Police have arrested two more accused including one alleged member of the group which planned and carried out the attack on Rifat Sharif in Barguna town on Wednesday.

Rifat, 25, was attacked by a group of youths armed with sharp weapons and killed in broad daylight in front of his wife near Barguna Government College.

The arrestees were identified as Tanvir, 23, and Sagor, 22, both suspected of involvement in the brutal murder incident, reports our Patuakhali correspondent quoting Md Maruf Hossain, superintendent of police in Barguna.

Of them, Tanvir was arrested from Barguna town last night while Sagor was held from Barguna Police Lines area around 10:00am today, SP Maruf said during a briefing held at his office this noon.

So far, six people have been arrested, including the duo, in a case filed over the killing, the SP said. The four other arrestees include two enlisted criminals – Chandan and Hasan – and two others – Najmul Hasan and Saimun.

Tanvir allegedly carried the sharp weapons used in the killing of Rifat, police said.

Sagor, son of retired school teacher Abdul Latif of Paschim Amtalapar area in Barguna town, was selected for a constable post in Barguna Police, he said.

The photo shows Sagor, one of the accused in the sensational Rifat murder case in Barguna, who was arrested on June 30, 2019. Photo: Collected

Police arrested him after he went to Barguna Police Lines this morning to attend the medical test for the recruitment, SP Maruf said.

Since Sagor is arrested in a criminal case, he would not be considered for recruitment in police service, he also said.

Sagor, however, denied involvement in the murder in primary interrogation, the SP said.

He was a member of a Facebook chat group ‘007’ which is run by Nayan, the prime accused in Rifat murder case, and his associates including Rifat Farajee, another accused, police claimed.

The murder of Rifat was planned in the members of this chat group, according to screenshots of conversations of the group which went viral in social media, the police official said.

The screenshots showed that Rifat Farajee posted in the chat group at 8:06am on Wednesday calling upon the members to meet in front of the college around 9:00am on the same day, he added.

Sagor allegedly gave a like to Rifat’s post and replied with an affirmative ‘V’ sign, police said.

Around 10:30am on Wednesday, Nayan and Farajee, along with some others, attacked 25-year-old Rifat, an internet service provider, with sharp weapons in front of Barguna Government College when Rifat and his wife Ayesha were leaving the college premises.

A video clip of the barbaric attack, probably captured on a mobile phone, went viral on social media, triggering public outrage with many condemning the bystanders for not coming forward to save Rifat. Ayesha alone desperately tried to save her husband from the attackers but in vain.

The clip showed that two assailants were hacking Rifat indiscriminately with sharp weapons as Ayesha was trying to hold back one of the attackers.

Fatally injured Rifat was taken to Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital (BSMCH) where doctors declared him dead.

The doctors found at least eight stab marks in different parts of his body.

A case was filed against 12 people with Barguna Sadar Police Station on the same day the incident took place.