Staff Reporeter :Detectives arrested two operatives of banned Islamist militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh [JMB] in connection with the murder of former chairman of Power Development Board [PDB] Khijir Khan. Detective Branch [DB] of Dhaka Metropolitan Police [DMP] on Thursday claimed that Khijir Khan was killed by Islamic extremists following a conflict over religious ideology.Police said that JMB operative Tariqul Islam Tareque alias Mithu, who was held earlier day from Tangail, killed Khijir Khan sliting his throat with a sharp weapon. Another of his associates Alek Bebari was arrested from Dhaka’s Mirpur area.Tariqul along with a gang of assailants killed Khijir Khan, 66, also a so-called pir, on October 5 in his Gudaraghat house at Maddhya Badda in the city. Khijir was PDB chairman from 1996 to 2001. Quoting Tariqul Islam, Joint Commissioner [DB] Monirul Islam on Thursday said, “As Khijir Khan was a so-called pir and his activities were contradictory to religious ideology, it was our (JMB) responsibility as believers to kill him.”Briefing reporters at DMP media centre, Monirul Islam also said that a team of DB police picked up Tarequl from Tangail while Alek Bepary from Mirpur area of the capital during their separate drives. Two cameras and two laptops, presumably stolen, were also recovered from Tarequl, he said.Monirul Islam said Tarequl confessed to the law enforces during interrogations that he had taken part in the killing mission with seven other killers and a driver. They used Alek Bepary’s vehicle during the mission. The mission was conducted in two groups and Tarequl lead the killing mission.The group was active since last two years targeting religious leaders like pirs and their followers.Tarequl is a member of JMB Suicide Squad and directly involved in the 17th August, 2005 near-simultaneous explosions that took place in 63 out of 64 districts, the police officer said. Detectives also claimed that they were able to get a name of their next target. The group was also involved in robberies to finance terrorist activities. Meanwhile, a Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate court yesterday placed the two suspects on a three-day remand each in connection with the case of killing Khijir Khan.Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rashed Talukdar passed the order after police produced them before it with a 10-day remand prayer. No lawyer stood to defend them.Claiming themselves innocent, they told the court that they were implicated with the killing falsely.
