7 arrested over murder of Bogura AL leader

Rapid Action Battalion yesterday arrested seven accused in a case filed for killing Awami League leader Mominur Islam Rocky in Bogura.

On July 27, Rocky (32), general secretary of Fapor union AL unit, was returning home after offering Esha prayers at a mosque. When he reached Haatkhola Bazar, near his home, some 15-20 youths attacked him with sharp weapons and rods, said Bogura Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Selim Reza, quoting family members.

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They stabbed and hit him in the head with rods. Later, the attackers fled the spot, leaving Rocky critically injured.

Locals sent him to Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Rab said Mehedi Hasan (18), Arifur Rahman (28), Ali Hasan (28), Fazle Rabbi (30) and Abdul Ahad (20) were arrested in this connection from Fakirganj village under Bararganj upazila in Rangpur around 12:30am yesterday.

Lt Commander Abdullah Al-Mamun, company commander of the Rab-12, said, "Following information, we also arrested prime accused Gausul Azam (28) and second accused Fuad Hasan Manik (29) in Fapor High School ground area around 5am."

"During the raid, we also seized a foreign-made pistol, one magazine, three rounds of bullets and machetes from Gausul Azam," said the Rab official.

He said during primary interrogation, the accused admitted to killing Rocky as they saw him as a threat to their drug trade and extortion racket.

Al-Mamun said they handed over the seven accused to Bogura Sadar Police Station in the afternoon.

Abul Kalam Azad, inspector (investigation) of the police station, said they will produce the seven before court with a seven-day remand prayer.

Rocky's younger brother on Thursday filed a murder case against 10 named and 12 unnamed youths for killing his brother.

Earlier, police arrested another accused and produced him before a court that placed him on remand for two days, said sub-inspector Md Jahurul Islam, investigation officer of the case.