The DNA of Babul Mia, a Bangladeshi accused of killing Shah Alam inside a site in the industrial area of Guraidhoo, was found on the handle of a knife recovered from the crime scene, a police DNA expert testified in the Criminal Court today.
Senior DNA analyst Hussain Sameer of the police DNA laboratory testified at the hearing held in the Criminal Court today. The forensic DNA analyst who has been working in DNA analysis for 15 years explained how the police conduct DNA analysis.
He also explained how the DNA information was obtained from the evidence sent for analysis concerning Shah Alam’s murder. He explained that DNA analysis was conducted by profiling the DNA from reference samples from Shah Alam and Babul Mia and comparing them with the DNA profiles obtained from the evidence collected from the crime scene.
Among the evidence sent to the laboratory, a blood-stained black-handled Kiwi-brand knife, believed to have been used to attack Shah Alam, was sent to the laboratory for DNA Analysis. The DNA Analyst said one sample was taken from the knife blade and another sample from the handle of the knife by swabbing.
According to his analysis, the sample taken from the handle of the knife revealed a DNA profile of two people. The Analyst said the major component is consistent with Shah Alam, while the minor component of the profile is consistent with Babul Mia’s DNA.
Explaining how it happened, the witness said that when samples are usually taken from objects such as knife blades, DNA containing materials such as sweat and blood is stuck to the handle. According to him, the major component of the DNA profile found in the handle matches Shah Alam, which is believed to have been from the blood-like substance that was stuck to the knife handle during swabbing.
Additionally, he said today that a sample from the blood-stained Mundu found while searching the house where Babul was staying also matched Shah Alam’s DNA.
Although a bloody, foot-long axe was recovered from inside the building under construction at the Binma site where Shah Alam was found murdered, it did not have enough genetic DNA for profiling, said the Analyst.
Two witnesses were scheduled to testify at today’s hearing, but the hearing was delayed, and the witness’ testimony was postponed to another date.
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The Case:
About two years ago, Shah Alam was found murdered inside a building room where he lived at the Guraidah “Binma site” on May 20, 2000. Reportedly, his dead body had multiple stab wounds on various parts of his body, and his bowels were protruding due to the injuries to his stomach.
Police arrested another Bangladeshi, Babul Mia, working in the same area as the victim, in connection with the murder case the next day.
During the search and information collection of all the foreigners working on the island, police noticed Babul Mia lying in his room. He was initially thought to be asleep but was taken to the health center with head injuries.
On questioning, Babul first told police that his injuries were inflicted during the robbery of his phone. However, police became suspicious of him, searched the house, and found traces of blood. His cell phone and a blood-stained mundu were also recovered. Police charged Babul Mia with intentional homicide using a sharp object.
Shah Alam worked in an agricultural field in Guraidhoo, while Babul Mia worked in the fish drying factory. The two men are known to each other.
