Ahmed Raza Hasan Mehdi nabbed at Delhi airport
New Delhi: A Bangladeshi student leader was arrested by Delhi Police at the Delhi airport as he tried to flee India and take a flight to Finland. He is accused of killing a Hindu cop named Santosh Chowdhury in 2024 during the nationwide student protest against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The student activist, identified as Ahmed Raza Hasan Mehdi, was later deported to Bangladesh after the completion of the necessary procedures.
Mehdi had taken responsibility for the murder of Sub-Inspector Santosh Chowdhury on 5 August 2024. The video of his statement had gone viral amid the nationwide movement that led to a regime change in Bangladesh.
The violence unfolded amid nationwide protests demanding the resignation of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who left the country the same day. Incidents of arson and looting were reported across several parts of Bangladesh.
According to reports, the unrest in Habiganj began when students and local residents organised a march to protest deaths reported elsewhere. As the procession neared the Baniachang police station, police allegedly opened fire, resulting in the deaths of six people.
The firing reportedly triggered widespread anger. A mob surrounded the police station and set it ablaze, with several officers trapped inside. Sub-Inspector Santosh Chowdhury was allegedly lynched and burnt during the violence. His body was later found hanging from a tree.
Sources say a viral video had surfaced earlier in which Mehdi purportedly claimed responsibility for the killing.
Chowdhury had been married for less than a year when the protests erupted. Three months after his death, his wife gave birth to a son. He was the only son of his parents.
