Rab has arrested Guruma Zahir, the prime accused in the murder case of Enamul Haque Shishir, alias Mahi, 27, while they were allegedly trying to flee to India through the Satkhira border.

Mithun Kumar Kundu, assistant director of Rab-11 Cumilla, at a press briefing today said, Zahir was held during a raid in the Bhomra Land Port area of Satkhira on Monday night.

Burichang Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lutfor Rahman said Zahir had fled to Geneva Camp in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur after the case was filed. Zahir later attempted to cross into India through the Satkhira border area.

According to the first information report, Zahir, 46, and their associates allegedly tied Mahi’s hands and feet in front of their akhra (common house) in Cumilla’s Burichang Uttar Bazar on May 13. They then allegedly poured kerosene on Mahi and set them on fire.

Local residents rescued Mahi and first took them to Cumilla Medical College Hospital. Mahi was later transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Mahi died on May 17 while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit.

The same afternoon, the victim’s father, Kamrul Haque Sohag, filed a murder case with Burichang Police Station. The case named three accused -- Guruma Zahir, Dhopa Dola Hijra and Kamal -- along with seven to eight unidentified individuals. Police have already arrested Dola Hijra in connection with the incident.

Human rights activists, local residents, and family members have alleged that police were initially reluctant to register the case.

Speaking to The Daily Star, OC Lutfor Rahman said authorities had received allegations that Guruma Zahir had been operating a yaba trafficking and extortion network from a house built on government land in Burichang Uttar Bazar for around one and a half years. Mahi was also reportedly associated with the group.

A team from district police is now bringing the suspect back to Cumilla for further legal proceedings, the OC added.