Teacher killed during snatching: 2 arrested, ‘doubt’ over color, model of recovered bike

RAB has arrested two persons in the incident of a teacher dying after falling from a rickshaw due to the pull of the snatchers in front of the National Parliament Bhaban. However questions have arisen over whether the motorcycle recovered by RAB and the motorcycle used at the time of the snatching are the same.

The two arrested were presented in front of the journalists at a press conference called by RAB-2 to inform about this matter on Sunday. At that time one person, Poni Gazi—informed by shouting that he is not involved with this incident and he has been brought by force. At one stage he raised the context of the color of his own motorcycle and said although his bike is silver and black in color the bike that was seen at the time of the snatching is blue in color. He also requested the journalists to investigate and look into the matter. After that RAB members removed him from there.

Raising the matter of this mismatch of the color of the motorcycle Additional DIG and Commander of RAB-2 Naymul Hasan highlighted the word of caution at the press conference itself. He said as the accused are unknown in the case Poni and Cedric have been arrested as suspects. In his words, ‘The thing will develop slowly from the suspect. We will wait until it becomes clearer.’

Following the context of his statement if the picture of the bike shown as recovered is compared with the picture of the motorcycle seen in the CCTV video of the time of the snatching it is seen that the colors of the two are different. Even the models of the two motorcycles are also different, the bikers are informing—according to their statement one is Yamaha, the other is Suzuki.

Two CCTV camera videos of the snatching incident of Saturday were published in various media. In these videos it is seen that two persons are roaming on a blue-coloured motorcycle on the road in front of the south plaza of the National Parliament Bhaban. On the other hand in the picture of the recovered motorcycle supplied by RAB it is being seen as silver and black in colour.

At the press conference Commander of RAB-2 Naymul Hasan gave the information of identifying Poni Gazi as the main ‘suspected snatcher’ of the snatching incident. He presented the other arrested person Cedric as the accomplice of Poni Gazi. The information of their arrest on the basis of the preliminary investigation was presented at the press conference at the headquarters of RAB-2 Battalion in Bosila of Mohammadpur in the capital.

Principal teacher of Bagbari Girls Government Primary School of Gabtali upazila of Bogura Ranjila Parvin was killed after falling into the clutches of the snatchers at the south plaza of the Parliament Bhaban at dawn on Saturday. She had come to Dhaka with her husband for treatment. After getting down at Gabtali bus terminal at dawn while going to the hospital by rickshaw two snatchers coming on a motorcycle in the Parliament Bhaban area pulled the bag that was in Ranjila’s hand. Due to this she fell from the rickshaw and received a serious injury on the head and after being taken to the hospital the doctor declared her dead.

One day later RAB officials gave the information of arresting two persons from East Tejturi Bazar area of the capital and gave the information of recovering the ‘Yamaha R15’ model motorcycle used in this snatching. They also informed about taking the owner of it into custody for interrogation.

Commander of RAB-2 Naymul Hasan said they were identified with the assistance of intelligence information and technology. Within 24 hours of the incident two persons have been arrested and the motorcycle used in the snatching has been recovered.

According to RAB’s statement the owner of the recovered motorcycle is Rakib. He has been detained for interrogation. Citing Rakib Naymul Hasan said the elder brother of Rakib’s area Poni used to take the motorcycle from him by giving threats at various times. Rakib has claimed that the motorcycle was with Poni from August 26 till Saturday afternoon. He informed that it was with Poni even on the day of the incident. Husband of the deceased Ranjila Parvin Abdul Matin has also confirmed after seeing the recovered motorcycle that that was the one used in the snatching.

Besides, the claim of matching of the physical structure of the driver seen in the CCTV footage with Poni has also been made at the press conference. The commander of RAB-2 has claimed of identifying Poni by showing the video to 15 local police ‘sources’. As the third argument he said from 2:30am to 4am at the time of the incident the mobile numbers of Poni and Cedric were positioned around that area. He said, ‘We do not have any more information beyond this at this moment.’

RAB claimed that Poni Gazi is a professional snatcher. He has been involved in various crimes including dacoity, snatching, drug dealing and intimidation for a long time in various areas including Tejgaon and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar of the capital. There are 13 cases against him in various police stations of the capital and outside it. Among these there are three drug cases in Hatirjheel, Adabor and Kafrul police stations; six cases of theft and intimidation in Bhatara, Mohammadpur, Kafrul, Badda and Shahjahanpur police stations. Besides, there are three cases of theft and burglary in Adabor, Khilgaon and Kamrangirchar police stations and one case of preparation of dacoity in Chandpur Model police station. Poni had been arrested by the law enforcement agencies earlier also and later came out on bail, however the information of when he last came out on bail has not been obtained yet, it was informed at the press conference.

Naymul Hasan said specific information regarding Cedric has not been obtained yet. According to the statement of the owner of the motorcycle Rakib, Cedric was sitting behind Poni at the time of the incident.