The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into the murder of Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, adding a new dimension to the case involving cross-border links.
On Sunday, the NIA sought and received permission from a special court to conduct jail interrogation of two arrested accused - Rahul alias Faisal Kiram Masud and Alamgir Hossain. The court also allowed the addition of Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against them.
The two accused were earlier arrested by the West Bengal STF on March 8.
Accused denies role, makes fresh claims
While being taken back to jail, Faisal denied involvement in the killing. He told the media, "This could be Jamaat's move." He further said, "You are all going on about Hadi. The people of Bangladesh are always talking about Hadi. Who is he? He was just a militant of Jamaat."
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Earlier, the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police had identified Faisal as the main conspirator who allegedly opened fire on Osman Hadi in Dhaka on December 12. He later died on December 18 at a hospital in Singapore.
The developments have added fresh controversy to the case, with conflicting claims emerging from investigators and the accused.
Cross-border links under probe
Based on interrogation inputs, the West Bengal STF arrested another accused, a Bangladeshi broker named Philip Sangma, from Shantipur bypass in Nadia on March 14. Investigators claim he helped Faisal and others cross into India after the incident.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh authorities have initiated diplomatic efforts to bring back the accused. Bangladesh Police IGP Ali Hossain Fakir said that discussions are ongoing between the foreign ministries of both countries for their extradition.
With the NIA now handling the case, the investigation is expected to focus on possible terror links, cross-border movement and the broader conspiracy behind the killing.
