Soldier Titas Murder: Rohingya Mhommad Prime Suspect, Six Arrested
A case has been filed four days after army soldier Titas Sheikh was shot dead by human traffickers in the remote hills of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar. The case statement names 27 people and also lists 17 unnamed people as accused.
Officer in Charge of Teknaf Police Station Mr. Md. Saiful Islam confirmed this on Monday (9 November) afternoon. The main accused is Mohammad, a resident of Rohingya Camp No. 24 in Teknaf. Law enforcement members had arrested him on the day of the incident while he was trying to flee during the operation. Most of the accused are Rohingya, but a few are Bangladeshi citizens.
Mr. Saiful Islam said Army Warrant Officer Mr. Minhajul Islam filed the case statement at the police station in the early hours of Monday. It names 27 people, led by a Rohingya man named Mohammad, and 17 unnamed people. Police have recorded the case and have already begun the initial investigation.
He said law enforcement has already arrested six people named in the case statement, including the main accused. He said, “The complainant filed the case under three separate sections on murder, human trafficking and arms law. Along with the investigation, police are continuing their drive to arrest the other accused.”
Earlier, on Thursday (5 November), armed human traffickers exchanged fire with a joint force in the remote hills of Rangikhali in Hnila Union of Teknaf Upazila. Soldier Md. Titas Sheikh was shot in the clash and given first aid at a nearby hospital. He was then taken in critical condition to the Combined Military Hospital at Ramu Cantonment, where the doctor on duty declared him dead.
During the operation, law enforcement members arrested four people involved in human trafficking as they fled the scene. They also rescued 56 victims who were being held hostage at the hideout. The next day, a special joint force drive arrested two more suspects. Law enforcement recovered two foreign made pistols, four bullets and several other items from those arrested during the operation.
