Bangladesh mutiny: Outsiders killed officers

Dhaka: Bangladeshi officials investigating last week's bloody mutiny by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troops have claimed that video footage of the BDR headquarters in Dhaka showed unknown people in the border guards uniforms taking part in the massacre.

BDR personnel have also claimed that "masked" soldiers forced them to join the mutiny.

Newly appointed BDR chief Brigadier General Mainul Islam told the Daily Star that video footage taken during the massacre inside the paramilitary force's headquarters at Pilkhana in Dhaka showed movement of "some unknown people wearing BDR uniforms".

Army's Operations Director Brigadier General Ziaul Hassan declined to reconfirm the "outsiders" participation" as investigations were still underway.

"We have been gathering many information, but I can't confirm that the outsiders took part in the massacre in uniform until we are sure or could catch any of them," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has agreed to help Bangladesh with forensic investigations.

The search is still on for more than 1,000 border guards who have been charged with killing Army and BDR officers during the mutiny.

On A senior Bangladesh Border Rifles (BDR) officer, suspected to have led the rebellion, was arrested on Monday while attempting to flee the country as the army launched a massive hunt for about 1,000 fugitives facing murder charges.

BDR Deputy Assistant Director Touhidul Alam, said to be the mutiny leader, was on Monday arrested along with at least four others from a slum in Dhaka.

(With inputs from PTI)

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)