Panay Mala Murder in Khagrachhari

Accused move scot-free under the nose of cops

15 September 2009, 17:00 PM

Najmul Alam Nobin, back to Dhaka from Khagrachhari

Four of the five accused in Panay Mala Tripura murder case are yet to be netted ten days after filing of the case although they are doing their business in a local market. Panay Mala Tripura, 50, was killed on September 3 midnight in her jhum land and her husband Bivishon Tripura filed a case with Guimara Police Station accusing five people the following day. Accused Sholo Ana Tripura, 50, was arrested from Sindukchhari Bazar but four others -- Md Noab Ali, Md Afsar Gazi, Md Khairul Islam and Md Rustom Ali are yet to be netted although they are seen in the same market. The four people also talked to this correspondent at Sindukchhari Bazar on Thursday. The day before, Noab Ali, who got lease of the market, was seen collecting his due toll from traders there. The same day, Khairul was seen giving motorcycle rides to people from Sindukchhari to Jaliapara for fares while Afsar and Rustom were seen doing their business in the market. Investigation officer (IO) of the case, Sub-inspector Rashedul Islam, on the other hand, told this correspondent, "I have conducted several operations but could not arrest the four accused as they went into hiding after filing of the murder case." “We have been cultivating a five-acre land for a long time and it was originally owned by Panay Mala's father. But recently Noab, Afsar, Khairul and Rustom started claiming the land saying that it was leased to them by the government,” said Panay Mala's husband Bivishon. Locals said recently they saw Panay Mala and the four people exchanging hot words on several occasions in the market. Ranka Bala Tripura, a local woman, said she saw Noab Ali and Panay Mala engaged in an altercation in Sindukchhari Bazar the day before she was killed. Sholo Ana, also a cousin of Panay Mala, had a quarrel with her two years ago but it was settled through arbitration, said Khanjoy Tripura, member of Ward No 1 of the Sinduk Chhari Union. When asked, Noab, Afsar, Khairul and Rustom denied the allegation and said the case was a 'conspiracy' against them.