Sagar Biswas :Mystery over the killing of Italian citizen Cesare Tavella has intensified when international terrorist outfit IS [Islamic State] reportedly claimed its responsibility hours after the murder but Bangladesh government categorically ruled out their involvement in the incident.At present four powerful intelligence agencies, including Special Branch, National Security Intelligence, Directorate of General Forces Intelligence and Detective and Criminal Intelligence Division have been conducting coordinated investigation into the murder, official sources said. Besides, the intelligence wing of crime busting elite force Rapid Action Battalion, Crime Scene Unit of Criminal Investigation Department and local police station simultaneously conducting investigation to unearth the clue about the involvement of IS behind the gruesome murder. The case filed in connection with the murder has been transferred to Detective and Criminal Intelligence Division yesterday evening. Apart from it, the Police Headquarters have formed a high-powered probe committee headed by Joint Commissioner of Detective and Criminal Intelligence Division to investigate the murder. The probe committee would be assisted by a strong investigation team comprising the skilled members of different units of law enforcement agencies headed by Special Superintendent of Police of CID Md Rezaul Haider, official sources said. “We have taken the issue as a challenge. Already we have taken heavy security measures around the diplomatic missions and other foreign establishments. We will resist such type of murder in future through intelligence gathering, protective measures and proper investigation,” Acting Inspector General of Police Md Mokhlesur Rahman said after a meeting with high law enforcing officials yesterday. Both the Home Ministry and law enforcement agencies including the RAB have categorically ruled out the involvement of IS in the incident.Quoting an online statement, the international news agency Reuters on Monday run a report that hardline Islamist group Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the attack on Cesare Tavella. ‘The attackers of Tavella followed him and shot him dead,’ the report added.But refuting the claim, Home Minster Aasduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday said: ‘It’s a preplanned murder, no doubt. It is highly mysterious. But we have no information about the involvement of IS. Those who had tried to work for the extremist group have already been arrested.’ “The law enforcement agencies are conducting massive hunt to nab the killers. The killers will be nabbed soon. We have already intensified security in the diplomatic zone,” the Home Boss said elaborating the police activities.Echoing the same, the police department said that they have no information about the reported ‘linkage’ of IS with the killing. Police also were in confusion whether the news was false. ‘We have got this message. Now we are gathering information. We are trying to collect video footage of CCTVs. Besides, we have also got some information from two eyewitnesses,’ Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka metropolitan Police Mustaque Ahmed said yesterday.The police, however, could not nab anybody in connection with the incident till the time of filing this report at 7:00pm yesterday. Meanwhile, the autopsy of Tavella was completed by Acting Chairman of Forensic Department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital [DMCH] Dr Kazi Mohammad Abu Sama at about 2:00pm yesterday.According to autopsy report, there were three marks of bullet injuries in different parts of the body, including left side of shoulder and underarm. Two bullets went through the body from back side to front side while one remained stuck inside the body.The police deposition report, completed by Sub Inspector of Gulshan Police Station Sabbir Hossain, said: ‘The bullets were fired from a very close range. Probably the bullets were fired from point 32 bore automatic revolver. One bullet gone through left side of his neck and another two inches below the neck. One bullet passed off through the left elbow. Besides, there are also two marks of thrash injuries in the right knee and elbow.’ The body of Tavella has been kept at the morgue and decision of his burial would be taken after consulting with the officials of Italian embassy. He was the project manager of Profitable Opportunities for Food Security [PROOFS], a project of Netherlands-based organisation ICCO Cooperation [Interchurch Organisation for Development Cooperation]. Police said the victim was also a member of American International School in Dhaka. Earlier on Tuesday morning, Country Representative of ICCO Cooperation Heleen Saaf van der Beeky filed a murder case with Gulshan Police Station accusing three unidentified persons in connection with killing of Tavella.
