Lawer Saiful murder: Two accused put on remand

A Chattogram court today placed two accused on remand in connection with the murder of Advocate Saiful Islam Alif, a lawyer, who was hacked to death during a clash between the followers of formers ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, police and a group of lawyers on November 26, report The Daily Star.

The two accused are Chandan Das and Ripan Das.

Chattogram Metropolitan magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam passed the remand order after Kotwali police produced them before the court.

"The court granted a seven-day remand for Chandan and a five-day remand for Ripon Das after the hearing," said Deputy Commissioner (DC) (Prosecution) AAM Humayun Kabir of Chattogram Metropolitan Police to The Daily Star.

They were produced before the court today amid tight security measures.

Public Prosecutor (PP) Mafizul Hoque said police sought a 10-day remand for the accused.

Earlier on Thursday, police arrested Chandan from Bhairab, Kishoreganj and Ripon from Anwara, Chattogram.

Carrying a machete, wearing a helmet with an orange t-shirt and black pants, the accused Chandan was seen hacking Saiful Islam Alif several times in video footage that has circulated since the incident. Police said that after the murder, he went into hiding. Ripon also seen carrying a sharp weapon, and wearing a red helmet during the murder.

Police also registered three cases on charge of police assault, vandalism, and obstructing police personnel in discharging their duties during the three-way clashes between police, lawyers, and followers of Chinmoy that took place on November 26.

The clashes erupted in the court premises after the bail plea of Chinmoy, also the spokesperson of the Sammilito Sanatoni Jagoron Jote, was rejected in a sedition case.

During the clash, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was brutally beaten and hacked to death outside the court premises. Following the murder, Saiful‍‍`s father, Jamal Uddin, filed a murder case naming 31 individuals. Alif‍‍`s brother lodged another case accusing 115 persons.