Tahsif's death: PBI finds repeated inconsistencies in friend Deep's account, verifying nothing on trust

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has found multiple inconsistencies in information given under questioning by Ahmed Shahriar Reza Deep, a junior friend of former Air Force Flight Lieutenant K M Tahsif Souri, over Tahsif's death.

PBI Dhaka Metro North Additional DIG Md Enayet Hossain Mannan gave the information on Friday (30 October). He said the recovery of Tahsif's body is being investigated keeping in view drug-related and woman-related angles. Whether it was a planned murder or an accident is also being examined.

The Additional DIG said Deep is giving different information at different times when questioned about why they went to the Bazar Basti field beside the Turag river. Beyond the reason for going to the field, he is also not giving clear information on whether a woman or anyone else was with them.

According to PBI sources, at one stage of questioning Deep told investigators he had not gone to the field; Tahsif had told him he would go there. Investigators then asked in return: if he had not gone to the field, how did he know where in the field the motorcycle was? In answer, Deep changed his statement again, saying he had gone to the field, Tahsif had taken him there by motorcycle, and he had not known the field beforehand.

However, Deep is still not giving a correct answer on why they went to the field. Officials involved in the investigation said Deep is answering all questions calmly and in his own way.

An officer questioning Deep, speaking on condition of anonymity, said drugs are consumed in the field beside Tongi Mazar Basti and law enforcement agencies have raided the place several times before. Some clues suggest Tahsif and Deep may have gone there over a drug-related matter. But when Deep was asked repeatedly why they would leave Dhaka for that Tongi field to take drugs, he gave different answers.

Another officer involved in the questioning said a woman was also with Tahsif that night. He went to several places with her. Whether she finally went to the field, or was dropped at home before going there, is under investigation.

Citing Deep's information, the Additional DIG also said Deep reported that they ran after seeing two people who looked like police there. Who those two people were, whether they were police members at all, whether they were uniformed police or whether anyone was on duty, will now be verified.

Investigators say none of Deep's information is being believed without verification. Alongside this, efforts are under way with technology to learn where Tahsif went after leaving home after 6:30pm on 27 October. That day, Tahsif spoke with Deep by phone and WhatsApp 10 to 12 times until 12:30am; some calls lasted a few seconds and some a few minutes. His phone call list, WhatsApp call list and messages are being analysed through forensic examination.

On the absence of a case, a senior PBI Dhaka Metro North officer said if the victim's family does not file a case, the police will file one as plaintiff. If a case is filed, the investigation will cover all the angles. Why the family is not filing a case will also be investigated.

Meanwhile, Deep's father, younger brother and uncle were seen on Friday night at the PBI Dhaka Metro North office in Agargaon in the capital. His father did not want to speak about Deep. His uncle, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tahsif and Deep met over study-related matters and became friends from that acquaintance; Tahsif used to visit Deep's Mohammadpur home. But neither Deep nor his family attended Tahsif's janaza and burial, he said. He gave no answer when asked why they had not gone.

To determine the cause of death, sources at the forensic department of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital said stomach and kidney organ samples were collected during the autopsy and sent for testing. Viscera and blood were also sent for testing. Police said samples have also been sent for DNA testing.

A forensic department officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the body had been underwater for 10 to 12 hours. It initially appears he died by drowning. But the cause of death cannot be stated with certainty until the autopsy report arrives. He added that as an Air Force officer Tahsif would normally be expected to know how to swim; whether he fell into the water in a state where he was unable to swim is also being considered. The tests could also show whether he had taken drugs or any intoxicating substance. The report is expected on Saturday (31 October).

On the overall investigation, Additional DIG Md Enayet Hossain Mannan said: 'Several issues are being kept in view in investigating the recovery of Tahsif's body. But the real mystery has not yet been uncovered. We are verifying various pieces of information. Besides, we are not believing everything Deep is telling us. We are verifying the information he has given.'