So far, only a few of those arrested in the BDR mutiny case have admitted their role in the carnage that left 74 people including 55 army officers killed and scores injured on February 25-26.An official involved in the investigation said, "A few of the arrestees have talked about their role in the massacre and other offences committed at the BDR headquarters."
However, for the sake of investigation, he would not disclose identity of the accused who have confessed their involvement. Neither would he elaborate on their role.
Investigators are now grilling the arrestees in the Taskforce for Interrogation cell to glean further information about the mass killings.
In another development, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka yesterday placed BDR cook Amirul Islam on a five-day remand. Investigation Officer and ASP Abdul Kahar Akand of CID produced Amirul before the court and sought 10 days' remand. With the cook's arrest at Pilkhana Thursday, the number of people rounded up in the case filed with Lalbagh Police Station stands at 28.
Meanwhile, as the hunt for rebels and firearms and ammunition missing from the BDR headquarters continued across the country, a pistol and 42 rounds of bullets meant for government use were recovered from the city's Shahbagh area yesterday morning.
Locals found the small gun and ammunition beside a drain at Shivbari and informed the police. Police suspect those had been dumped by fleeing mutineers.
Abdul Kahar Akand yesterday said there has been some progress in their investigation into the carnage. He said he hopes they will be able to submit their report soon. Talking to The Daily Star, he said, "We have almost finished the work of gathering evidence."
Sources in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said they are now working to detect offenders through fingerprints on the firearms, helmets, belts, nameplates and uniforms that the mutineers left before fleeing the scene.
Intelligence agencies and committees formed to investigate the Pilkhana carnage are working in coordination to help CID submit a watertight charge sheet after investigation.