Sinha murder: HC upholds death sentences for 2, life in prison for 6

The High Court has upheld the death sentences of two police officials and life in prison for six others over the sensational murder of retired army major Sinha Md Rashed Khan, who was shot dead at a police checkpoint in Cox’s Bazar in 2020.

The bench of Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain delivered the verdict in the case on Monday.

The High Court began hearings on the death reference and appeals on Apr 23 this year, after Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed directed the matter to be disposed of on “a priority basis”.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Deputy Attorney General Jashim Uddin Sarker represented the state while lawyers SM Shahjahan and Sarwar Ahmed argued for the convicts in the case.

During the hearing, the attorney general called on the court to uphold the judge court’s verdict, which sentenced key accused to death. The legal counsel of the defence sought to overturn the ruling and have the convicts acquitted.

On Jul 31, 2020, Sinha was shot dead at a checkpoint on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive in Shamlapur.

After taking early retirement from the Army, Sinha travelled to Cox’s Bazar with a team to film a travel documentary.

His killing sparked a national outcry and the case soon exposed deep issues of abuse of power within the police.

In 2022, a court in Cox’s Bazar sentenced former Teknaf Police Station chief Pradip Kumar Das and Baharchhara Outpost chief Liaqat Ali to death for the murder.

Six others, including three police officers and three police informants, were handed life in prison for assisting in the killing and attempting to cover it up.

Four other policemen and three members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

An investigation into the incident by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) also revealed how Pradip, the erstwhile chief of Teknaf Police Station, would stage gunfights and extort people for money under the pretext of a war on drugs.

Sinha and his team had come to learn about the torture and abuse inflicted on locals in Teknaf, which ultimately led to his targeted killing.

Feeling threatened that Sinha might expose his misdeeds, Pradip allegedly planned the murder. He ordered Liaqat to open fire, while others on the scene helped stage the incident as a shootout.

Following the incident, Sinha’s sister filed a case and a total of 15 people, including 12 police personnel, were eventually charged.

The trial formally began on Jun 27, 2021, under Judge Mohammad Ismail of the Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Court. The verdict was delivered on Jan 31, 2022.

The death references then moved to the High Court for mandatory confirmation, while the convicts, currently in jail, filed appeals.

On May 30, the High Court concluded hearings on both the death references and appeals by the defence and set Monday for the verdict.