Verdict in Mirabazar double murder case likely this week

Deposition of 48 of the 56 witnesses has been completed. However, the prime witness in the case --Shithil Ranajan Dey--did not appear before the Speedy Trial Court despite issuance of warrant against him three times in the last three months. This delayed the trial.

Shitil Ranjan Dey is the lone eyewitness, who identified the accused in the case, the sources said.

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Anwara Begum, wife of business magnet Ajab Ali Sheth and housemaid Jubeda Begum were killed in his house at Mirabazar in the city on February 17, 2001.

The detective branch of police submitted the charge sheet in the court on June 15 last year, accusing 10 persons. They are Chamak, Salek, Hannan, Matlib, Kala Miah, Faruque Uddin, Tojoi Miah, Fakhrul Islam, Jainal Ahmed and Sattar Miah.

Five of the chargesheeted accused are in jail, four on bail and one Jainal Ahmedis yet to be arrested.

Shithil Ranjan Dey alias Shitol of village Salutikar under Gowainghat upazila and his family is "missing" from their house since March 4. The house is under lock and key since the morning of March 4.

Complainant Ajab Ali Sheth earlier alleged that Shitol was hiding under the protection of his cousin Fanindra Ranjan Dey.

Dey denied this and said the killers might have forced Shitol to go into hiding.

The disappearance of Shithil Ranjan Dey was discussed at a meeting of the divisional committee for monitoring sensational criminal cases, held on June 10 with Divisional Commissioner Nazrul Islam in the chair.