Former OC Pradip mastermind behind Major Sinha murder: HC

The High Court has declared that former police officer Pradip Kumar Das, then officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, was the main planner behind the killing of former army officer Major (ret.) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan.

In its full 378-page verdict, issued on Sunday by a bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain, the court stated that, following Pradip’s plan, former SI Liaqat Ali shot Major Sinha four times.

The verdict confirmed that Pradip was present at the scene, struck Major Sinha in the chest, breaking two ribs, and pressed the victim’s left leg and shoe against his neck to ensure death.

The bench noted that co-accused Liaqat Ali, following prior planning, fired four shots intending to kill the victim. The trial court had sentenced Pradip and Liaqat to death under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

The court’s observations were based on witness testimony, prosecution evidence, confessional statements, and circumstantial proof.

After the full verdict, the convicts have 30 days to appeal to the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.

The High Court upheld the trial court’s death sentences for Pradip Kumar Das and Liaqat Ali and confirmed life sentences for six others: former SI Nand Dulal Rokkhi, former constables Sagar Dev and Rubel Sharma, and police sources Md Nizammuddin, Md Nurul Amin, and Md Ayaz Uddin. All eight convicts are currently in prison.

The court stated that, as the involvement of the six convicts in conspiracy, abetment, and common intention was proven beyond doubt, life imprisonment rather than death was appropriate under Section 302.

The High Court described the conspiracy and planning behind the murder, noting that Major (ret.) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan had visited Cox’s Bazar on July 2, 2020, to shoot videos for the ‘Just Go’ YouTube channel with associates Sahedul Islam Sifat (PW-2), Shipra Debnath, and Rupotika.

From July 2 to July 7, they stayed at Nilima Resort and filmed various locations in Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, and Ramu. They learned that the then OC of Teknaf, Pradip Kumar Das, and his associates were conducting illegal activities, including extortion, abductions, and crossfire killings.

Major Sinha recorded statements of victims (PW-15, PW-16, PW-18, PW-20) documenting these events. Upon learning this, Pradip threatened Major Sinha in mid-July 2020 and ordered him to cease activities and leave the area.

Despite the threats, the victim continued his work. Pradip then conspired with Nand Dulal Rokkhi, Sagar Dev, Md Nurul Amin, Ayaz, and Nizammuddin to kill Major Sinha. Nurul Amin, Ayaz, and Nizammuddin were assigned to monitor and report the victim’s movements.

The High Court further described how, on July 31, 2020, while the victim and Sahedul Islam Sifat (PW-2) were returning from filming in Marishbania Monya Hills under Teknaf Police Station, Nizammuddin announced them as ‘robbers’ via a mosque microphone to provoke locals into killing them. Confessions and witness statements (PW-10, PW-14) corroborate this part of the plot.

The court confirmed that this sequence of events, supported by multiple confessions and testimonies, proved the planning and execution of Major Sinha’s murder.