Kushtia ‘Pir’ murder: FIR-named accused arrested

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested another accused in a case filed over the killing of self-proclaimed “Pir” Abdur Rahman, also known as Shamim Reza and Jahangir, in a mob attack at his shrine in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia.

Rajib Mistry, 32, one of the four accused named in the First Information Report (FIR), was arrested during a drive in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi around 11:00 pm on Thursday, said Additional Superintendent of Police Sudipta Sarkar, company commander of RAB-12 Kushtia camp.

Rajib Mistry is the son of Gazi Mistry of West South Philipnagar village under Philipnagar union in Daulatpur. He is the third accused in the case, UNB reported citing the officials said.

He was arrested in a joint operation conducted by RAB-5 Rajshahi and RAB-12 Kushtia. He was later sent to jail through a court on Friday.

Officer-in-Charge of Daulatpur Police Station Arifur Rahman said four people have so far been arrested in the case, while drives to apprehend others are continuing.

Earlier, police arrested Biplob Hossain, 26, Alif Islam, 23, and Class X student Alamgir Hossain, 16, in connection with the murder.

On April 11, Shamim Reza, 65, was beaten and hacked to death at his shrine, known as “Shamim Baba’s Darbar Sharif,” in Philipnagar union.

According to locals, an old video from 2023 resurfaced, leading to allegations of blasphemy and triggering the attack. Three of his followers were also injured in the incident.

Following the incident, the victim’s brother, Fazlur Rahman, filed a case with Daulatpur Police Station on April 13 against four named individuals, including Rajib Mistry, and 180–200 unnamed people.