Indian ‘RAW’ involvement claimed in Pakistani media using fake police attribution over NCP leader’s shooting in Khulna
Pakistani media outlet Times of Islamabad published a report on the shooting of Md. Motaleb Shikdar, a central leader of the labor wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Khulna. The report claimed that the investigating officer hinted at the involvement of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s external intelligence agency, in the incident. However, Dismislab’s fact-check found the claim to be false. Sonadanga Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Animesh Mondol confirmed to Dismislab that he made no such statement and had no conversation with Times of Islamabad.
The Times of Islamabad published the report on December 22 headlined, “Bangladesh Student Leader Shot in Head Amid Rising Political Violence.” One part of the report said, “Police from Sonadanga Model Police Station, led by Inspector Animesh Mondol, has suspected the Indian RAW behind the attack as was the case with Osman Hadi Assassination.”
A review of the latest reports (1, 2, 3, 4) from Bangladeshi media shows that no report on this incident mentioned the involvement of India’s intelligence agency, RAW, by police. A report published by Prothom Alo on December 22 stated, “Police initially believe that Md. Motaleb Shikdar (42), a central leader of the labor wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Khulna, was shot due to ‘internal family conflict inside the house.’”
The report further said, “Sonadanga Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Animesh Mondol told Prothom Alo that the bullet grazed Motaleb Shikdar’s scalp and exited. Although there was bleeding, he survived. He is currently undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital and is out of danger. The police officer said, ‘At first, the victim told us that someone came on a motorcycle and shot him on the road. Later, we discovered that the incident occurred inside the house. CCTV footage shows one or two people holding him and taking him to the hospital. We are also looking into who took him to the hospital.”
None of the statements given by this police officer mentions any involvement of RAW.
For further verification, Dismislab contacted Sonadanga Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Animesh Mondol, who said, “I did not say anything like that…. This is false, and I had no conversation with them (Times of Islamabad).”
Dismislab tried to contact with the Times of Islamabad through email but received no response.
The Times of Pakistan also cited Bangladesh’s top English newspaper, The Daily Star, as its source, but The Daily Star report does not mention any involvement of RAW or that police suspected such involvement. Also, The Daily Star report quoted Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, not Animesh Mondol.
Dismislab also spoke with The Daily Star’s Khulna correspondent Dipankar Ray, who filed the report. He confirmed the police officer did not make any comment regarding India’s ‘RAW’ during his conversation with the officer. Dipankar also said that for the report, he spoke with Officer In-Charge (OC) Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, not Animesh Mondol.
Notably, on December 22, at around 11:45 a.m., Md. Motaleb Shikdar, a central leader of the NCP’s labor wing in Khulna, was shot in Sonadanga. Locals rescued him and took him to Khulna Medical College Hospital. According to doctors, the bullet grazed his scalp and exited, but he was out of danger.
