Gopal Krishna Muhari Murder case

"Gopal Krishna Muhari Murder case "

Gopal Krishna Muhuri Murder Case: 4 accused given capital punishment 4 life imprisonment

- Ajoy Roy

Justice Ensured : The Truth has been upheld

In a written press reaction issued from a hideout address Mrs. Uma Muhuri, wife of the deceased principal of Nazirhat college expressed that the trial of assassination of her husband leading to identification of the real culprits and punishment is praiseworthy step on the part of our judiciary system. But this is just a good beginning towards establishing a true rule of law. She also hoped that the higher courts would uphold the verdict given by the special tribunal (the speedy trial tribunal). Mrs. Muhuri asked the government pursue the case of the acquitted ones at the HC appellate division for justice.

As the verdict was heard the pressmen ran towards the residence of Principal Muhuri, Shawan Bhaban at Jamal Khan Road to get reactions from his wife and other inmates. But none was available there except a distant relative who did not disclose their whereabouts, obviously for security reason. The police constable on duty at the gate informed the press that the family shifted from the house a couple of days back.

The press however could get in touch of the family over a cellular phone. Saikat, son of Principal Muhuri stated in his initial reaction that the lower court has done its job. It had identified the killers and gave punishment. Truth has surfaced to the light. He however declined to make any comment if the judgment has satisfied the sentiments of the family.

Detail of the verdict: Who got punishment ?

The verdict was announced at 12-15 on 6^th February, 2003 as the judge entered the court room and took his seat.

In a crowded court premises thousands of people with relatives of the accused heard the judgment pronounced by the judge Mr. M. Hasan Imam of the Speedy Trial Tribunal dealing with the major portion of the verdict of the most sensational murder case in the history of the criminal procedures in Bangladesh. The read out formality lasted only 3-4 minutes in which the learned judge was heard to announce that out of 12 accused 4 were to be hanged to death and 4 were to spend ?rest of their life? in rigorous imprisonment. The rest were set free, as the case against them could not be established beyond doubt in the eye of the court.

All eight found guilty of involving in the murder case are members of armed cadres of Jamat i Islami belonging to Islami Chhatra Shibir. The culprits who got capital punishment are (1) Alamgir Kabir alias Baitya (dwarf) Alamgir, (2) Taslimuddin Montu, 93) Gittu Nasir, and (4) Azam. The later two accused are still absconding, while Baitya and Montu wee present at the dock when the learned judge declared the punishment ?to hang them till death?, after 15 months of committing a most heinous crime.

Taslimuddin alias Montu, accused in the Gopal Krishna Muhuri murder case, arrested with an AK-56 rifle at the DC Road at Chittagong last year

The accused who got rigorous imprisonment for life plus a fine of Tk 50,000/- each are (1) Mohammad Shajahan, accountant of Nazirhat College, (2) Saiful Islam alias Chhotto Saiful, also a shibir cadre, (3) Habib Khan, and (4) Mahiuddin alias Mahinuddin. The later two, both members of the armed cadre of Islami Chhatra Shibir are absconding.

The court further observed that the punishment of Gittu Nasir, Azam, Habib Khan and Mahiuddin would be effective from the date of their arrest or surrender. The court instructed the concerned executives to make sure of arresting the absconders and handed over the copy of judgment to CMP (Chittagong Metropolitan Police) Commissioner and District Magistrate. The court also instructed that that necessary procedure of giving authority to the district commissioner be given so that after the expiry of period of filing appeal realizing the fine. The court also set the procedure of realizing fine by confiscating the wealth of the punished.

The accused receiving capital punishment may appeal to higher court within seven days after getting the certified copy of the verdict.

Those who were acquitted by the court are Nasir, a prominent shibir activist and brother of Mohiuddin, who was believed to be the mastermind of making the plan of killing Muhuri. three college professors of Nazirhat college- namely messers Tofazzal Ahmed, Idris Mian Chodhury and Md. Jaharul Haque

The case was conducted by PP Ahmad Kamrul Islam with assistance from Advocate Shadhanmoy Bhattacharyya. On behalf of the defendants a team of lawyers including advocate Badiul Alam, Ahsanul Haq Hena, Manjurul Islam Ansari and others.

Motive behind the murder

The court in its judgment tried to reveal the motive of the case. Principal Muhuri was an able administrator but also a popular teacher, an educationist and an organizer of our war of liberation in Chittagong. He was gunned down on November 16, at his residence early in the morning by a group of allegedly students of his college belonging to armed cadre of Islami Chhatra Shibir, a student wing of the Islamic Fundamentalist political party known as Jamat i Islami. An AK rifle with two rounds of bullets blew out his head. The killing of a well respected teacher and a freedom fighter was sequel to a move by a vested quarter for his removal.

The judgment observed how the plan was masterminded and skillfully executed. The court noted that there were civil suits against Principal Muhuri filed by three college teachers and some other. The judgment said that a few days before the killing a secret meeting took place atop a hill within the campus of the Chittagong university in which the accused of the case took part including Gittu Nasir, Chhoto Saiful, Azam and Baitya Alamgir. It was planned to eliminate Principal Muhuri. Just a day before the killing, as per plan, these four assembled at the residence of Taslimuddin Montu at Kapashgola at 10 a.m. to examine the effectiveness of an AK5 rifle, a pistol and two revolvers and loaded with bullets. The team finalized the scheme for execution on the following morning.

On the fateful day these five cadres Mantu, Azam, Gittu and Baitya of Shibir armed with those deadly weapons came to the residence of Principal Gopal K Muhuri early in the morning with an auto rickshaw. While Chhota Saiful was waiting at the entrance of the lane in the three-wheeler, other four proceeded toward the residence of the principal. Three of them namely Gittu, Azam and Baitya entered the residence upstairs keeping Montu armed with a pistol on guard at the gate of the house. On entering the upstairs flat Gittu asked Mrs. Uma Muhuri, wife of the deceased principal ?Where is our sir ?? Within a few minutes Mr. Muhuri appeared at the door and sat on a sofa asking who they were. Immediately, Gittu Nasir twice shot at touching his AK5 rifle that blew off his skull. The unfortunate Principal instantly died- the verdict said.

But the real motive of the killing still remained uncovered. Is it because of shear professional jealousy on the part of a few college teachers to become principal of that college or was there any communal cum political motive or the killing was just a n act of lunticism on the part of a few fundamentalist shibir cadres ?

But one thing is in common the killers and their associates belong to a student front of an Islamic Fundamentalist Party and those accused teachers and the convicted accountant believe in the philosophy of that particular party. What conclusion should we draw ? If this is simply an act of terrorism then why the principal was their target ? If they had come for grabbing wealth or money, which the poor Principal neither had, they could have easily took away with out shooting a single shot. Was it then because Principal bore a Hindu name and because he was a freedom fighter believing in conscience of war of liberation and secularism- both opposed Jamat Philosophy ?

A note of concern

Yes, we are very much concerned about the safety of the Muhuri family, especially after the pronouncement of the judgment. As we know the nature of those fundamentalists, for shear revenge these dedicated "soldiers of Islam" can go to any length to eliminate the Muhuri family. It is the responsibility of our judiciary system and the government of Bangladesh to save the life and dignity of the family.

My Teacher Muhuri's verdict by Ranjan Chowdhury

Go to part 1


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