Mirabazar double murder case
All accused acquitted
Iqbal Siddiquee, Sylhet
All the nine accused in the sensational double murder that took place at the house of a businessman at Mirabazar area in the city 28 months ago were cleared of charges owing to the absence of sufficient evidence. The judge of the Speedy Trial Court, Sylhet, Shah-e-Alam Chowdhury passed the verdict in a crowded courtroom yesterday. However, in the judgment he observed that circumstantial evidences indicated that the complainant and his relatives knew the actual cause behind the crime. "For some unknown reason, they tried to hide the killers. I believe if the case were reinvestigated, the mystery would be unearthed," the judge observed in his verdict. The complainant, Ajab Ali Sheth, expressed his dissatisfaction with the verdict and said he would appeal to the High Court Division against the judgement. Arguments of the lawyers of the prosecution and defence ended on June 26 and depositions of 48 out of the total of 56 witnesses were complete on the same day. However, the prime witness in the case had been 'missing' for the about 4 months, causing a delay in the trial. The trial took a new turn due to the sudden disappearance of the prime witness. After his repeated failure to appear before the court, the court issued warrant of arrest three times against him. Shithil Ranjan Dey was the lone eyewitness, who identified the accused in the double murder case. The prosecution case in brief is that Anwara Begum, wife of businessman Ajab Ali Sheth and housemaid Jubeda Begum were killed in his house at Mirabazar on February 17, 2001. A murder case was lodged with the Kotwali Police Station the following day. The officer-in-charge of the police station was made the investigating officer of the case. Later, the case was transferred to the Detective Branch (DB). A sub-inspector of the DB, after lengthy investigation, submitted the charge sheet in the court on June 15, 2002 accusing 10 persons. They are, Chamak, Salek, Hannan, Matlib, Kala Miah, Faruque Uddin, Tojoi Miah, Fakhar Ahmed, Jainal Ahmed and Sattar Miah. Accused Jainal Ahmed had been at large. Of the others, four were on bail and four others were in jail custody, while trial against another was stayed by the High Court. Among the witnesses, Shithil Ranjan Dey alias Shitol of village Salutikar under Gowainghat upazila had been 'missing' since March 4 along with his family members.
| 
