|
Pintu instigated BDR mutiny
[Bangla Daily Star] Detained former BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu instigated the BDR mutineers, who were involved in the carnage at their Pilkhana headquarters, alleges the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).The CID made the allegation in its forwarding report submitted to a Dhaka court yesterday when the investigation officer of the mutiny case produced Pintu before the court seeking 10-day remand. The court granted five days to quiz the former lawmaker in connection with the charges. Earlier, the national probe committee on BDR carnage revealed Pintu's "involvement" with the BDR carnage in helping mutineers flee by arranging engine boats to cross the Buriganga at Keraniganj ferry ghat. The allegation has also been mentioned in the forwarding report by the CID. Another allegation against Pintu came to light from the CID documents submitted to the court that he and his followers encouraged the mutineers by bringing out processions around Pilkhana in support of them on February 25. CID sources say Pintu's above-mentioned involvement came to light during questioning of arrested BDR mutineers and in the witnesses' accounts. The investigation officer, CID's Senior Assistant Superintendent Abdul Kahar Akand, said Pintu has been sent to the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell where he will be kept during his remand period. He added CID representatives will visit the TFI cell and interrogate him. The Detective Branch of police picked up Pintu along with his brother-in-law Mainur Rahman Apu on Tuesday afternoon from the High Court premises following a CID requisition to detain him. Apu was later released on a bond. The former lawmaker was taken to the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka around 12:45pm in a prison van amid tight security. Earlier, Pintu's counsels submitted a petition seeking bail along with cancellation of the remand prayer. Moving the petition, the defence said their client was implicated in the case for political harassment and damage to his image in the society. They also told the court Pintu was implicated in the case in an attempt to divert the investigation and save the real perpetrators. The defence also argued that it is not clear on which basis allegation Pintu was arrested. COURT PROCEEDINGS SUSPEND Metropolitan Magistrate Mominul Hassan had to suspend the court proceedings for around 10 minutes and left the courtroom as there was a pandemonium due to the defence's 'unhealthy' competition on who will be the first to make submission. Pintu himself tried to calm the lawyers, but they did not even pay heed to him. At one stage Pintu shouted, "Why are you (lawyers) causing damage to me?" As the lawyers later promised not to indulge in such behaviour, the magistrate took his seat again and allowed Pintu to defend himself as per his earlier appeal to the court. Pintu argued that if he was involved in the incident, law enforcers could arrest him at that time. He also said he has been suffering from heart ailment, chest pain, respiratory problem and lost sight in an eye. He said he even begged to a constable to buy him some medicine, but the policeman did not move. Former president of BNP's student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Pintu grabbed media spotlight every now and then not only for his alleged involvement in criminal activities, violence, tender snatching and corruption but also for his arrogant behaviour. During the immediate past BNP-Jamaat alliance rule, the government withdrew as many as 76 cases against Pintu, who still faces several cases. Posted by: Fred 2009-06-04 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=271170 |