Pages

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Enmity, robbery might have claimed Sagar-Runi

Personal enmity and robbery were possibly the reasons behind the murder of the journalist couple, police said in its report submitted to the High Court on Tuesday.

Deputy attorney general A B M Altaf Hossain presented the report to the bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Jahangir Hossain, in keeping with an earlier order.

Detective Branch (DB) of police on Mar 21 submitted the report on progress of investigation into the killing of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi. The following day, the inspector general of police also submitted a copy of the report.

Investigation officer Mohammad Rabiul Islam said in the report, "Two issues were given special attention: whether any organised gang carried out the killing, or any personal enmity or antagonism relating to the family or their profession led to their murder."

On Feb 11, Maasranga Television journalist Sagar and his wife ATN Bangla journalist Runi were killed in their Razabazar flat.

A case was filed accusing unidentified people. The Detective Branch is investigating the killing.

Referring to an application filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station by Runi's brother, the report submitted to the High Court on Tuesday said 10-11 bhori gold ornaments, 1100 euro in cash, two laptops and a mobile phone could not be found after the incident.

Efforts to recover the 'stolen' things are on, it said, adding that sources are being used to find them.

The investigators are quizzing residents and the owner of the building, guests, neighbours, friends and colleagues, the report said.

Other supplementary materials submitted by the plaintiff are also being examined, it said.

The report said 19 objects were found at the spot. Those include a kitchen knife, a knife, a knife-butt, a violet dress, a broken lock and a black dress. All of them had blood stains.

Quoting doctor Sohel Mahmud, who conducted the autopsy, the report said the journalist couple died due to excessive bleeding.