The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mamunur Rashid

Subrato Bain, known as the "terror" of Moghbazar, confessed to his involvement in hundreds of political killings in the country during his interrogation by Kolkata police.

Bain is wanted in at least 17 criminal cases, including five murders in the country.

He was produced in court yesterday and remanded to police custody for 14 days. Bain was found in possession of a 9mm pistol and two rounds of bullet. The charges against him are under the Arms Act and Foreigners Act. Although Kolkata Police claims to have arrested him on Saturday from the area where chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's residence is located, there are reports that he was under detention since Friday.

Born in Barisal, Bain, 39, is an accused in the August 21, 2006 assassination attempt on Awami League chief and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Twenty-four people died in the bomb attack, which was allegedly planned at the then operational headquarters of the ruling party. A day before the assassination bid, Bain, along with five other Bangladeshi nationals, entered the country from India and were housed in the apartment of Indrani Hawladar, a model girl and a mafia don of India, in the posh Banani area in the city.

Those who accompanied him were Sohail, Apollo, Gujja Biplab, Madhu Babu and Mollah Masud. Masud managed to escape arrest when Bain was arrested by the Kolkata Police.

Acting on a "tip off," Kolkata police raided the apartment. Two other persons, including a driver and the driver's helper, were not taken into custody. Bain purchased the property at 9/3, Palm Avenue a couple of years back and rented it out to another person recently.

The arrest appears to be significant for the caretaker government. The Advisory Council would be only too glad with Bain's arrest since it began a crackdown in 2006 on suspected criminals who are also Awami League and BNP activists hiding in India.

The arrest assumes importance in the wake of preparations for National elections scheduled for December 18 followed by 482 upazila polls.