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Sagar-Runi Murder

Rab to collect DNA samples of suspects

Kailash Sarkar
The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will collect DNA samples of the suspects in journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder case for cross-matching after it receives forensic reports from the US.
Sagar Sarowar, news editor of Maasranga television, and Meherun Runi, a senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were killed in the early hours of February 11 at their flat in the capital's West Rajabazar. Their only child Megh was in the house then.
In two phases — on June 12 and July 17, Rab sent some evidence to two US laboratories for forensic test and DNA profiling.
Although the tests were yet to complete, the laboratories had so far detected DNA profile of a person from the evidence found on Runi'sT-shirt, said Rab sources, adding
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that there were many other evidence from which a few more persons' DNA profile might be detected.
The common sources of DNA profiling are a person's biospecimens, such as hair, saliva, blood, semen, sweat, nail and skin.
Rab officials said they had sent the knife found stuck in the body of Runi, its broken handle, socks of Sagar, a blanket, dresses the victims were wearing during the murder and the clothes used to tie up their hands and legs.
Commander M Shoail, director of Rab's legal and media wing, told The Daily Star, “We are hopeful of receiving the forensic reports within a couple of weeks and will start collecting DNA samples of the suspects from the middle of next month.”
On Thursday, Lt Col Ziaul Hasan, director of Rab's intelligence wing, told The Daily Star that the DNA profile found could be of any of the killers. "The person is not yet been identified as more tests are still pending," he added.
Another Rab official, however, said it was not certain that the DNA profile found was one of the killers because many relatives and colleagues of the victims had thronged the crime scene after the news of the killing spread.
Commander Sohail said, "If we can retrieve DNA profiles from the evidence collected from the victims' bodies and the crime scene, a scope will be created for cross-matching the profiles with the suspects' and there will be no chance of any mistake.”
After the sensational murder of Sagar and Runi, the Detective Branch (DB) of police was given the charge to investigate. They detained four suspects and interrogated around 40 people.
But on April 18, the High Court frustrated with DB's performance handed over the case to Rab, which has also interrogated around 100 people.