CHITTAGONG: Police arrested the alleged prime accused in the Advocate Saiful Islam Alif murder case from Bhairab rail station early Thursday. The arrest was made in connection with a case filed over the murder that occurred during a clash on the court premises in Chattogram.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a joint team from Bhairab and Chattogram city’s Kotwali thana police detained Chandan, 35, from the Bhairab Railway station area. Abdul Karim, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali thana, confirmed the arrest and stated that Chandan will be transported to Chattogram and presented before the court soon.
Police reported that video footage captured Chandan, identified by his helmet, orange T-shirt, and black pants, repeatedly attacking Saiful Islam Alif with a machete during the altercation at the Chattogram court premises. After the murder, Chandan went into hiding, according to the OC.
The clashes erupted on November 26 following a court’s denial of bail in a sedition case against Chinmoy Krish
na Das Brahmachari, an ISKCON leader and spokesperson of the Sammilito Sanatoni Jagoron Jote. The violence led to the death of lawyer Saiful Islam, who was brutally beaten and hacked to death outside the court premises.
In the aftermath of the incident, Jamal Uddin, father of Saiful Islam, filed a murder case against 31 individuals. Additionally, Saiful’s brother lodged another case accusing 115 individuals. Meanwhile, the Chattogram Metropolitan Police filed three separate cases related to the assault of police officers, vandalism, and obstruction of law enforcement agencies in their duties.