Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi has granted federal investigators an additional 45 days to conclude their inquiry into the murder of Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. The case involves three suspects accused of entering India illegally through the Meghalaya border following the activist's death in Dhaka on December 12, 2025.
Vacation Judge Meenu Kaushik remanded the trio, identified as Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud, Alamgir Hossain, and Philip Sangma, to judicial custody on June 19. Prior to this, the accused underwent lengthy periods of custodial interrogation to determine their roles in the killing, which occurred during the aftermath of Bangladesh's July 2024 uprising. Investigators believe the men fled into India before being captured by the West Bengal Police Special Task Force in Bongaon while attempting to cross back into their home country.
The extension follows a broader request previously approved by Vacation Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh, who pushed the investigation deadline from 90 to 135 days. The agency justified the need for more time by citing new material received from the West Bengal Police and the Supreme Court. The NIA noted that "new material had been received on June 8 following directions from the Supreme Court, requiring further verification through custodial interrogation."
Defense counsel opposed the request for extended custody, but the court ruled in favor of the agency to allow for a deeper analysis of the evidence. While the NIA continues its cross-border investigation, authorities in Bangladesh have already filed a chargesheet naming 17 individuals in connection with the murder.
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