Photo: Collected
Chandan Das, the prime accused in the lawyer Saiful Islam Alif murder case, has confessed to his direct involvement in the crime before a Chattogram court. He gave his confessional statement to Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam in his chamber yesterday evening (9 December), Abdul Karim, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station told.
In his statement, Chandan detailed his and others' roles in the attack that led to lawyer Saiful's murder. The confession revealed that Chandan, Ripon Das, Om Das and Ranab attacked Saiful with sharp weapons and inflicted fatal injuries. Other attackers beat Saiful with blunt weapons. Chandan also claimed he did not know some of the attackers.
Chandhan, arrested in Bhairab on 4 December, was placed on remand for seven days for questioning. His confession was recorded in the magistrate's chamber and he has since been sent to jail, said the police.
Footage of the incident shows Chandhan wearing a grey helmet, an orange shirt, and black pants, wielding a machete. Ripon Das, another accused, was wearing a blue shirt, jeans, and a red helmet and wielding a weapon.
Police reported that Ripon worked at a pharmacy in Chawkbazar. The incident traces back to 26 November when former Iskcon leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was being transported to prison in a van after being denied bail.
His followers blocked the vehicle and staged a three-hour protest. Law enforcement intervened using batons and sound grenades to disperse the demonstrators. During the ensuing chaos, clashes erupted between law enforcement personnel and protesters.
In the aftermath, lawyer Saiful was brutally attacked and killed in an alley near the Rangam Convention Hall, located on the opposite side of the Chattogram court premises.
This triggered additional clashes, vandalism, and disruption of police operations in the area. Police later filed three cases in response to the violence.
On 30 November, Saiful's father filed a murder case naming 31 individuals, while his brother Khan-e Alam filed another case under the Explosives Act against 116 people for vandalism and assault.
Messenger/JRTarek
