Six bullet wounds found on journalist Alif's body, case filed against 8

Six bullet wounds have been found on the body of journalist Lutfuzzaman Fakir Alif, who was shot dead by miscreants in Durgapur, Netrokona. Five of the bullets passed through his body, while one remained lodged in his back. Alif's wife, Anandita Sangma, has filed a murder case as plaintiff, naming seven to eight unidentified people as accused.

The case was filed at Durgapur Police Station on Friday (October 16) night. Earlier that afternoon, an autopsy of Alif's body was conducted at the morgue of Netrokona 250-Bed Modern Sadar Hospital. He was later buried at the family graveyard in Sunoi village of Pogla union in Kalmakanda upazila.

Confirming the case around 9:15 am on Saturday (October 17), Khondaker Shaker Ahmed Khan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Durgapur Police Station, said police are working to identify and arrest those involved in the killing.

Dr. Shraddhyananda Nath, who conducted the autopsy, said Alif had three bullet wounds in his chest. Two of those bullets exited his body, while the third remained lodged in his back. Another bullet entered through the right side of his forehead and exited from the back of his head. Of the remaining two bullets, one grazed the skin on the top of his head and the other grazed the skin near his right shoulder. Judging by the nature of the wounds, it is initially believed he was shot from the front with a pistol.

Alif worked as the Netrokona correspondent of the private IP television channel Rupasi Bangla. He also ran a Facebook page called "Detective Article," where he wrote about various irregularities and crimes and published videos. He was the son of Mohabbat Ali Fakir of Sunoi village in Pogla union, Kalmakanda. His in-laws' home was in the Telnozia area of Durgapur.

Anandita Sangma has demanded the swift arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in her husband's killing. They have two young children. She also expressed concern about how she will support the children after losing her husband. Alif's elder brother, Shahid Islam Fakir, claimed that his brother had made many enemies because of his journalism. He demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the killing.

According to eyewitnesses and police sources, Alif had tea at a tea stall in the Telnozia area around 8 pm on the day of the incident. After setting out for Birishiri Utrail Bazar, he remembered he had left his mobile phone at the stall. About three minutes later, as he returned to the stall and was leaving with the phone, two young men came up and asked the shopkeeper for cigarettes. They then fired several shots in quick succession at Alif. When locals came forward on hearing the gunfire, the two men fled. Alif was rescued and taken to the upazila health complex, where doctors declared him dead.

After the incident, Netrokona Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam visited the scene. He said it was initially believed to be a premeditated killing, and that several police units are working to arrest those involved. A pistol shell casing and one unexploded bullet were recovered from the scene.

Previously, on November 10 last year, miscreants had attacked and wounded Alif with sharp weapons at the Teribazar ghat area of the Someshwari River in Durgapur upazila. When a colleague accompanying him tried to intervene, he was also threatened with a weapon and chased. Alif filed a case over that incident, and police later arrested the two named accused. They are currently out on bail.