Dhaka, Nov 24 (V7N) – Former Teknaf Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Pradeep Kumar Das has been identified as the mastermind behind the murder of Major (Retd.) Sinha Md. Rashed Khan, while former police inspector Liakat Ali directly fired four shots that caused Sinha’s death. These findings were detailed in the full verdict released by the High Court in the widely discussed murder case.

The 378-page full judgment, published on the Supreme Court’s official website on Sunday (Nov 23), outlines the court’s observations based on the FIR, charge sheet and witness testimony. The verdict upholds the death penalties of Pradeep and Liakat and confirms the life sentences of six other convicts.

A High Court bench of Justice Md. Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Saghir Hossain delivered the judgment on June 2, approving the death references and rejecting the appeals filed by the convicts.

According to the full judgment, Pradeep Das orchestrated the killing and was present at the scene during the incident. Witness testimony and forensic evidence show that he forcefully pressed his boot against Sinha’s left chest, causing two ribs to fracture, and pressed on Sinha’s neck to ensure his death.

The judgment further states that former inspector Liakat Ali carried out the shooting in a premeditated manner. Armed with his service pistol, Liakat fired four consecutive bullets at the unarmed Major Sinha, targeting the upper part of his body with the intention to kill.

The court also upheld the life sentences of six convicts—former Baharchhara Police Investigation Center SI Nanda Dulal Rakshit, Constables Sagar Dev and Rubel Sharma, and police informants Nurul Amin, Md. Nezamuddin, and Ayaz Uddin. The court ruled that conspiracy, assistance and shared intent in the murder were proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Major (Retd.) Sinha, who had been staying at a Himchhari resort while working on a travel documentary titled “Let’s Go,” was shot dead on July 31, 2020, at the Shamlapur police checkpoint on the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf Marine Drive Road. His death sparked nationwide outrage and calls for police accountability.

In January 2022, the Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Court sentenced Pradeep and Liakat to death, handed life sentences to six others, and acquitted seven members of the police force. The case was later forwarded to the High Court for confirmation.

With the release of the full verdict, the legal proceedings move closer to the next stage, pending further appeals before the Appellate Division.

END/KMD/SMA