Dhaka-The real identity of the prime accused in the killing of blogger Avijit Roy, himself killed in apparently a ‘gunfight’ with police in Khilgaon on Sunday, has been confirmed as Mukul Rana.Police had earlier identified him as Shariful, supposedly a top JMB militant. They said he led the operation to assassinate Avijit. CCTV camera footage near the crime scene of February 26, 2015 – the day Avijit and his wife were attacked, leading to his death – shows him following Avijit, police say, even though the image is not very clear and covers a span of less than 30 seconds.
The police didn’t count out the possibility though, that it was just an alias, and that was confirmed later on Sunday, when family members arrived to take custody of the body. Quoting Shariful’s father, Abul Kalam Azad of Baluigachha village in Sadar upazila of the district, police said the real of Shariful was Mukul Rana, aged 24.
He got GPA-5 in both SSC (2008) and HSC examinations (2010) and in 2010, before getting admitted to the Satkhira Government College’s, said Abul Kalam.
Police said they confirmed the real name of the militant-cum-victim while handing over the body to family members on Monday. Mukul’s mother, Sakhina, uncle Nazrul Islam, and cousin Abdur Rahman received the body of Mukul from Dhaka.
One-and-a-half years after starting at Satkhira Govt. College, Mukul left in search of a job in Dhaka, or so his mother thought anyway. The father appeared more attuned to his son’s activities.
In a further twist to the tale, Mukul had been reported missing since February 23, 2016. That is the date 7/8 plainclothes police apprehended him and his newly married wife at Basundia More in Jessore district. Later, Mukul’s father-in-law lodged a general diary with Jessore Police Station, he said.
Abul Kalam said he had no idea about Mukul’s involvement in any militant group or Jamaat-Shibir men. He came to know about the entire context in which Mukul’s ‘encounter’ with the police took place watching television.
Besides, Liakat Pervez, principal of Satkhira Government College, said Mukul was an irregular student while his classmates were already in their Honours final year.
