Shillong, Aug 29: The recovery of the semi-decomposed body of Ishaque Ali Khan Panna, a functionary of Bangladesh’s Awami League, by Meghalaya Police at Dona Bhoi village in East Jaintia Hills on August 26 has indeed raised numerous questions. The circumstances surrounding the recovery of the body are still unclear.
The body found inside a betel nut plantation, about 4.5 km off the Bangladesh border, has been identified through a passport recovered from the scene. The recovery was made by villagers, who subsequently handed over the body to the police. Following the recovery, a post-mortem examination was conducted to determine the cause of death and gather more information.
According to the post-mortem report, Ishaque Ali Khan Panna was “throttled to death,” with asphyxia caused by throttling determined as the cause of death. However, the final confirmation of the cause of death will depend on the results from the Forensic Science Laboratory report.
There were also lacerated wounds on the body, especially on the “lower right part of the orbital region”. There were abrasions and bruises on the forehead, which could indicate a struggle by the victim.
Apart from the post-mortem report, it’s uncertain who killed the victim, if at all he was throttled to death. There are conflicting reports that Panna was strangled to death by the villagers of Donna Cherra in Bangladesh and his body was later dumped inside India.
Some media reports suggested that Panna died of a heart attack while climbing the hills of Meghalaya. This account contrasts with the findings of the post-mortem report, which indicates throttling as the cause of death.
Other claims suggest that Panna might have been shot by the Border Security Force (BSF).
The Bangladesh media’s report of a heart attack as the cause of death contradicts the post-mortem findings of strangulation. The fact that the Bangladesh media correctly reported the body’s location in India, despite providing inaccurate details about the cause of death, raises concerns about the role of security officials or other sources in conveying misinformation.
The BSF has stated that, according to their intelligence, Ishaque Ali Khan Panna was killed in Donna Cherra village by either the Bangladesh Border Guards or local villagers.
The allegation that Panna might have been shot by the BSF has been definitively ruled out. This clarification helps address one of the conflicting reports regarding the involvement of Indian security forces.
According to family sources, Panna was carrying approximately Rs 3 crore in US dollars. Meghalaya police have stated that no money was found on Panna’s body at the time of recovery.
The BSF has consistently maintained that Ishaque Ali Khan Panna was killed in Donna Cherra village in Bangladesh. A senior BSF official emphasized, “The truth will be revealed in the days to come,” indicating that further details and clarity on the case are expected as the investigation progresses.
The BSF’s statement about Panna’s death in Donna Cherra village, combined with the promise of future revelations, underscores the complexity of the case. The investigation must address several key areas:
Panna, a former general secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League affiliated with the Awami League, held several significant positions within the party, particularly in the Pirojpur district. Following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, Panna and other Awami League members reportedly went into hiding.
He and other Awami League members hid from August 5 after the Sheikh Hasina government was ousted.
