Jessore Correspondent:

The District Detective Branch (DB) has arrested two people, including shooter Mahmud Hasan Hridoy, in the murder case of the controversial Revolutionary Communist Party leader Rana Pratap Bairagi in Monirampur, Jessore. The other arrested person is Shamim, who identified the location of the deceased on the day of the incident, police said.

Jessore Additional Superintendent of Police Abul Basar gave this information at a press briefing held at the Superintendent of Police office on Friday at 3 pm. Police said that the arrested Mahmud Hasan Hridoy is the son of Habibur Rahman of Barandi village in Abhaynagar upazila. A foreign 7.65 pistol, a magazine, two rounds of bullets and a knife used in the murder have been recovered from him.

Additional Superintendent of Police Abul Basar said that on January 5, at 5:45 pm, Rana Pratap Bairagi was shot dead in front of Jhum Beauty Parlor on the dirt road between Alam Sardar's two-story building and Habib's Market in Kapalia Bazar, Monirampur Upazila. Later, his throat was slit to confirm his death. He was known as an active member of the Revolutionary Communist Party.

After the incident, a case was registered and Jessore DB SI Kamruzzaman took over the investigation. After analyzing CCTV footage, using information technology and various police techniques, an accused named Saddam was first arrested from Bagerhat district. Based on the information he provided, Rajib Molla was arrested from Narail on February 17.

A knife used in the murder and a Pulsar motorcycle used for transportation were recovered from him. Rajib later gave a confessional statement in the court.

Police said that although Rana Pratap was a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party, he used to extort money from various gher owners and business establishments using the name of East Bengal Communist Party leader Shipon Ahmed Munna. Despite being warned several times, he ignored it. As a result, a plan was made to kill him.

As planned, on the day of the incident, Hridoy sent Shamim and Selim to Kapalia Bazar to confirm Rana Pratap's location. After confirming the location, Hridoy, Rajib Molla and Surya went to the spot on a Pulsar motorcycle and spoke to Rana. At one stage, he was shot. Later, his throat was slit to ensure his death, according to police.

The operation to arrest Shipon Ahmed Munna, the mastermind of the incident, and Surya, who was involved in the incident, is ongoing. Police said that four people have been arrested so far.