DB Nabs Suspects Linked to Teacher’s Death During Snatching

Bangla Press Desk:    The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested two men over the death of teacher Ranjila Parveen during a purse-snatching incident in Dhaka, saying three suspects previously arrested by RAB over the same incident were not involved.

The three RAB arrestees, however, remain in jail after they were remanded in the case.

DB Chief Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam identified the new suspects as Khokon and Rajib Matbar at a press conference at the DMP Media Centre on Wednesday.

Detectives allege Rajib was driving the motorcycle while Khokon, riding pillion, grabbed Ranjila’s bag, causing her to fall from a rickshaw near the parliament building on Aug 29.

RAB-2 had arrested three people—Rakib, Poni and Cedric—over the incident on Aug 30. They were subsequently remanded and sent to jail.

At the time, RAB alleged that Rakib owned the motorcycle used in the snatching and that the other two were with him.

But Shafiqul said the DB found no evidence linking the three to Ranjila’s death after questioning them and analysing information and evidence gathered during the investigation.

Detectives instead say CCTV footage, Ranjila’s recovered belongings and a different motorcycle led them to Khokon and Rajib.

What Happened to Ranjila

Police say Ranjila was travelling by rickshaw near Gate No. 12 of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, at the eastern end of Manik Mia Avenue in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, when her bag was snatched.

She fell from the rickshaw as the snatcher pulled at the bag and suffered serious injuries. She was taken to hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Her husband, Mohammad Abdul Matin, later filed a murder case against unidentified suspects with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

Shafiqul said investigators began reviewing CCTV footage and intelligence after the incident in an effort to identify those responsible.

Khokon, a resident of Bhola Sadar Upazila, was arrested in Mirpur’s West Manipur area on Tuesday.

According to the DB, Khokon admitted during questioning to snatching Ranjila’s bag.

Acting on information obtained from him, detectives recovered Ranjila’s bag from the Borobagh area of Mirpur. It contained clothes, ticket stubs, spectacle cases and medicine, the DB said.

Her mobile phone was also recovered from the Mirpur-1 area.

Detectives subsequently arrested Rajib from Birulia and allege he was driving the motorcycle during the snatching.

The motorcycle allegedly used in the incident was later recovered from the Diabari area based on information provided by Rajib, according to the DB.

Police also said 622 yaba pills were found in his possession.

Shafiqul said Rajib is accused in eight other cases involving allegations including weapons offences, robbery, theft and violence. Khokon is accused in three drug cases, he added.

RAB Arrestees ‘Not Involved’: DB

Shafiqul said investigators questioned the three people previously arrested by RAB and found no evidence of their involvement in Ranjila’s death.

“One of the people arrested by RAB had 12 cases against him. He was also questioned. Later, the investigation confirmed that they were not involved in the murder of Ranjila.”

Shafiqul said CCTV footage showed two people on a motorcycle, with Rajib driving and Khokon riding behind him.

Detectives also recovered clothing and other items they say helped identify Khokon, including a shirt, watch and cap.

The DB says the motorcycle used in the incident belonged to Rajib.

Shafiqul also pointed to a discrepancy between that motorcycle and the one RAB had previously said was used in the snatching.

“The colour of the motorcycle seen in the video footage and the colour of the motorcycle recovered by RAB are different,” he said.

Asked whether Khokon and Rajib had any connection with the three people arrested by RAB, Shafiqul said investigators had found none.

The two new suspects lived in the West Manipur area, while the RAB arrestees were from Tejturipara, he said.

“These are two different groups.”

Shafiqul said the three earlier arrestees would be dropped from the case if the investigation ultimately found no involvement on their part. Any proceedings against them in other cases would continue separately.

The DB also said Ranjila’s husband had caught a glimpse of the snatcher during the incident and later described the face he remembered to investigators. He subsequently identified Khokon, according to Shafiqul.

Shafiqul pointed to the recovery of Ranjila’s bag, phone and other belongings, along with CCTV footage, as evidence supporting the DB’s case.

“If you compare this evidence and video footage, you will also understand the situation,” he said.

RAB-2 second-in-command Squadron Leader Nifaz Rahman said, “We have already said that these three have been arrested as suspects. Whatever has been done was within the law. This is the the investigation process.”

“The DB has also said that the information we have received from the arrested suspects about the people they have arrested has played a very helpful role. This is how the investigation goes in such cases. We have arrested them as suspects, taken them on remand and they are now in jail. If we had not done this, the DB would not have received the necessary information.”

The RAB official said, “I think the people the DB has arrested are the true culprits. However, further investigation will be conducted in this regard. Only after that is complete will we have the details.”

Claiming that there is no conflict between RAB and DB, he said, “As a force, we have no conflict with anyone. We did our job, they did theirs. None of us want any innocent person to be punished. We had no such desire or intention.”

‘Remanded and Jailed for No Reason’

The families of the suspects arrested by RAB have questioned why they were remanded and jailed if the DB has now concluded they were not involved.

Sumaiya Islam, wife of Rakib Hossain alias Rakib Bepari, told bdnews24.com: “Now it has been proven who the true culprits are. What will happen to those who were arrested, jailed and remanded without committing a crime? What is the remedy for their harassment?”

Rony, the elder brother of Mosharraf Hossain Poni Gazi alias Para Poni, also criticised the arrests.

“My brother was among those who were arrested over the incident without being involved. Despite this, RAB took them into custody and harassed them. We will take legal action against those RAB officials,” he said.

Motorcycle Bought with Proceeds of Crime?

The DB says Rajib owns the motorcycle allegedly used in the snatching.

An officer involved in the investigation told bdnews24.com that detectives identified and arrested Khokon and Rajib after an operation lasting about 20 days.

According to the officer, Rajib said during initial questioning that the motorcycle belonged to him and that he had bought it with proceeds from previous crimes.

The officer said investigators were examining how the 250cc motorcycle was purchased and whether the money used to buy it came from criminal activity.