Prime accused Amini calls Shamim killing an 'accident' in confessional statement to court
Fazlul Haque Amini, the prime accused in the case, has given a confessional statement in court describing as an 'accident' the beating to death of Wahiduzzaman Shamim (38) in Debhata, Satkhira, on allegations of defaming religion. He gave this statement under Section 164 in the private chamber of a senior judicial magistrate on Sunday evening.
The statement began at around seven in the evening on Sunday in the private chamber of Nusrat Jahan, judge of the Satkhira Senior Judicial Magistrate's Third Court; it ended at around half past nine at night. The arrested Fazlul Haque is the son of Ruhul Amin of Dakshin Parulia village in Debhata upazila. He earned his living by driving a rented motorcycle.
Al Amin, sub-inspector of Debhata Police Station and the investigating officer of the case, said Amini was produced in Judge Nusrat Jahan's private chamber at seven on Sunday evening. There he admitted to being involved in the Shamim murder case and gave a confessional statement under Section 164.
According to a responsible court source, in the statement Amini mentioned that Shamim was an atheist; he had no intention of killing him, the incident happened 'accidentally'. At present he may be a criminal in the eyes of the law, but what he is in the eyes of Allah, Allah knows best. At that time he also disclosed the names of those who were involved in the killing.
After the statement ended, Amini was sent to the district jail after nine o'clock on Sunday night, said Nazmul Haque, police inspector of the Satkhira court.
Earlier, at around 11 pm on Saturday night, Amini was arrested from a relative's house in Faridpur village of Kaliganj upazila. Members of Debhata Circle, Kaliganj Police Station, Debhata Police Station and SRB (Special Response Battalion)-6 conducted a joint operation to arrest him. On Sunday afternoon he was handed over to Satkhira Sadar police; in the evening he was sent to court.
Bashir Ahmed, at whose house Amini was staying, said Amini is his cousin; his birthplace is Faridpur village. Twenty-eight years ago, his uncle Qari Ruhul Amin started living with his family in Dakshin Parulia, Debhata. After killing Shamim, Amini came to his house. At around 10 pm on Saturday night he consulted him about surrendering to the court. Bashir told him to talk to the local Bishnupur UP chairman, Jahangir Alam. Meanwhile, at around half past ten at night, SRB arrived at his house; when they asked, he confirmed Amini's whereabouts. He was taken away at around 11 at night.
The origin of the incident was last week. Shamim was beaten to death in Debhata last Tuesday on allegations of hurting religious feelings. He was a resident of Subarnabad village in Debhata.
The deceased's family said Shamim had long been suffering from mental problems. Last Monday an audio of an argument between him and his wife spread on social media. After allegations arose that the audio contained remarks defamatory of religion, an attempt was made to attack his home and he was beaten at a local market. Later he consumed poison, the family said.
The next day, while he was undergoing treatment at the chamber of local village doctor Md Sabur, more than a hundred people gathered, dragged him out and beat him. Police rescued him and took him to the Debhata Upazila Health Complex. Md Saiful Islam, health and family planning officer of Debhata Upazila Health Complex, said that after he was admitted to the hospital, more than a hundred people entered the ward and beat Shamim again; Ansar members, security staff and employees failed to stop them. Later police rescued him, and he died on the way to Satkhira Medical College Hospital. As several of the hospital's cameras were disconnected, it was not possible to view all the footage; if the police want, the footage can be provided, he also said.
After the incident, last Thursday night the deceased Shamim's elder brother Abdul Jalil filed a murder case as the complainant. In it, Amini (45) was made the prime accused with 10 people named, along with another 200 to 250 unknown persons as accused. At dawn last Friday, police arrested the FIR-named accused no. 5 and 6, Moktar Hossain Khan (53) and Asadul Islam Molla (46), and sent them to jail.
H M Shahin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Debhata Police Station, said Fazlul Haque Amini has admitted to being involved in the killing. He also said several people have been identified by analysing CCTV footage and mobile phone data. Efforts are under way to identify and arrest the others involved by verifying the names that emerged in the prime accused's statement.
