The photograph, provided by public relations office of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, (printed on page 15) shows people around Roy Mohan Sheel fighting among themselves while he stands at a corner between two police barricades.

The Detective and Crime Intelligence unit of police picked up Mohan, a hairdresser, in front of his shop at Kaula Bazar area near Zia International Airport Saturday night and showed him arrested in connection with the murder case yesterday before taking him on a two-day remand.

A Jamaat leader had filed the murder case against 40 activists of the AL-led 14-party alliance on October 29 with the Paltan Police Station after six people were killed in Paltan area. One person was killed under the Shahbagh Police Station.

The case was later shifted to the Detective and Crime Intelligence unit of police.

The investigators claimed, based on circumstantial evidence, they are sure of Mohan's involvement in the clashes but he did not admit his involvement.

"It's true that we haven't found him fighting in any photographs or video footages; he was just standing there watching. But two other people near him were found fighting with a knife and a stick. Isn't it enough for us to be certain about his involvement in the clashes?" investigation officer (IO) Enamul Haque of Crime and Intelligence Unit of Police told The Daly Star yesterday.

He also confirmed that Mohan, who owns two barber shops at Kaula Bazar near the airport, was not seen carrying any arms in the video footages or in the photographs.

Police, after the filing of the case, had started collecting video footages telecast during television news and photographs published in newspapers and spotted Mohan wearing a grey full sleeve shirt.

Five plainclothes policemen picked up Mohan while he was having his tea in front of one of his shops around 10:30pm Saturday.

Meanwhile, Mohan's neighbours, employees and family members said he is not a "party activist" but a mere supporter of the AL and he hardly ever went to any party rallies.

Son of a 70-year-old widow, Mohan is a simple, timid and peace-loving person, said locals of Kaula, where he lives with his mother, wife and two children.

"After I lost my husband and my other son went missing, he has been my only hope," said his mother Manabala Sheel claiming her son to be innocent.

His wife Kajal said her husband was not involved with any violent activities neither was he ever accused of any crime before. "Who would look after the family now," she asked.