Journo shimul killing: Police arrest two more

Police yesterday arrested two more people in Shahzadpur in connection with the killing of journalist Abdul Hakim Shimul of daily Samakal.

The arrestees -- Nazrul Islam, 45, of Barbila village and Hazrat Ali, 48, of Jannatpur village -- are close associates of detained Shahzadpur Municipality Mayor Halimul Haque Miru, police said.

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Acting on a tip-off, a team arrested the duo in Shahzadpur bus stand area when they were trying to go to Dhaka, said Officer-in-Charge Rezaul Haque of Shahzadpur Police Station.

“Although, they were not accused in the case, they were arrested after monitoring footage of the incident. We might get important information about the murder once they are interrogated,” the OC added.

With these two, 12 people have so far been arrested, including 10 accused, in the case.

Shimul, Shahzadpur upazila correspondent of the daily Samakal, received a bullet during a factional clash of ruling Awami League on February 2. He died of his injury the next day.

The mayor allegedly opened fire, which led to his death.

The victim's wife filed the case against the mayor, his two brothers and 15 others the same day.

Mayor Miru, also organising secretary of Sirajganj district unit AL, and his brothers Habibul Haque Mintu and Hasibul Haque Pintu are among the arrestees.

A Sirajganj court has fixed tomorrow to hear the remand petitions of the key accused.

The AL has already suspended Miru from the party. The order reached the party's district headquarters on Thursday, insiders said.