Kamal Kanta Dhungel
On 19th June 2014 Ponta Negra Beach was unusually crowded. People from different part of the Brazil and even from opposite corner of the world were enjoying its beauty and inhaling the aroma of nature. This place is so stunning that it could swallow any passerby. People were laughing , sunbathing , enjoying the tides on Rio Negro River. Meanwhile sound of gunfire destroyed the pleasant ambience there. People scattered and eloped willynilly like deer in the headlight.
“Alas! A man was shot right in front of the bank.” Someone yelled from third floor of an edifice nearby.
The delicate ambience is now contaminated with the fear, scream, sorrow and pain. In a jiffy, the crowded beach seemed evacuated. No person was left entertaining. Even the vendors by the beach rushed swiftly leaving their stalls. Conspicuously, nothing is more important than life. People have understood that death is inevitable and ugly truth of this universe. It is really fearsome nonetheless. Nobody want to embrace death easily and happily.
A jeep came swiftly where the man was shot. Two disguised mask-men kept him inside the jeep and rushed off before the news spread widely over Manaus. The injured person seemed hefty.
“What are you doing? Leave him right there, else I will call the cops.” He screamed with sound reaching a crescendo.
A sudden downpour further aggravated the situation. It washed off all the wreckage and evidences left. Immediately the local police arrived and the investigation started. However, a monthlong investigation gone fruitless and they can’t pinpoint the culprit. Consequently, this case was handed over to the renowned detective Abdulla. He was Arabic by origin which was vividly reflected by his accent. Often, he mentioned Arabic while talking. Yet, there was no case left unsolved whenever he accepts.
He was very thoughtful about this case. He began his investigation from the eye-witness whose name was Theo.
“As-Salam Walakum.” Abdulla greeted Theo.“Keif al-Hal? Kulu Jain?”
“Inshallah. So, Mr. Theo what did you see that day? Elucidate me.” He inquired .
“It was nearly 2:00PM afternoon. I was sitting there at the balcony watching YouTube and observing people in the beach and those moving across the road. Suddenly, I heard a sound similar to gunfire and saw around; however, nothing strange was visible… just few stray dogs rushed away barking. I was startled, and started sipping my coffee and continued watching my favourite Dramatizeme clips on YouTube. I love it very much and never missed new episodes.” He explained meticulously every details of the incident.
“Continue, continue…” Abdulla requested.
“Within a minute; again a loud sound of gunfire was heard. I am sure that this second blast was much closer than the first blast. The man fell down there in a jiffy.” He lamented. “I was astounded and scared.”
“Sukran. It really helped me a lot. You will soon see the culprit behind the bars, I promise.” Abdulla thanked Theo.” I will be back to you whenever necessary.”
Abdulla then went to the spot where the incident had occurred and inhaled every minute details of the incident. He drew a dummy picture of that incident in his brain. He joined every dots of the story he had imagined. However, the first and second bullet couldn’t fit in his plot.
He surmised that maybe Theo was bewildered by the gunfire sound as he was at the upper frontier of middle age.
Next day, he again went to the spot and tried to smell some new evidences however all went in vain. He studied the police investigation report thoroughly three times but it couldn’t pioneered him to the culprit. He was in the deadlock. No way was visible that led him to crack this case.
The sunstroke was very intense so he purchase a can of Pepsi. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he started sipping. Meanwhile, he saw a dog barking heavily -woof , woof…as if it was in a sheer pain. He being an animal lover approached near to it and found that it was bleeding. He took it to the veterinary clinic and found that it was shot .
Ballistic report showed that it was 9 mm bullet shot from a rifle from within the range of 400m to 600 m and from the height of about 60m to 90m.
It was clear to him that Theo was right. It must be the first shot he had talked about. The detail forensic analysis of the bullet showed that there is traces of human DNA on its surface. It means that this bullet conspicuously hit the victim and get through his body penetrating the flesh. It contracts the fact Theo told about the incident.
“What account for the discrepancies between the story told by eye-witness and the forensic report? The real truth behind this shootout is yet hidden inside the womb.” He mumbled.
“Are you sure nobody was injured in the first shootout?” Abdulla inquired Theo.
“I am not hundred percent sure as I was void of my spectacle during first gunfire. My eyes are myopic and I can’t see distant objects clearly without spectacle.” He confirmed.
“Oh! I got it.” Abdulla shook his head in consent.
It was concluded that Theo put on his spectacle during second firing so he saw the incident clearly.
Abdulla then checked this DNA with the criminal DNA database and found that it perfectly matched with the DNA of Peter, a notorious and homicide criminal. The record showed that Peter is imprisoned for two years.
Abdulla then went to the jail and asked for Peter with the jailer named Gabriel. In contrast, he didn’t allow him to meet with Peter.
“There is something fishy.” Abdulla smelled some conspiracy there.
He then complained to the higher authority about this malpractices and almost ten officers were suspended for this abuse of authority.
During interrogation Gabriel confessed that he had released Peter as he was bribed him with huge sum of money.
“An unknown person called me and deposited One million US dollars for helping him in this conspiracy.” Gabriel confessed.
The dots are now making a meaningful picture.
Now the questions yet unanswered is, “who shot the second bullet? Are they both from the same or different rifles? ”
Abdulla again met Theo for further investigation. Now he saw a clear route without any impasse on his investigation.
“Mashallah. I will crack this case soon.” He breathed a sigh of relief.
“Did you notice something strange and unusual there during shooting?” Abdulla asked eagerly.
“Nothing much. But…whether it is useful or not for you…” Theo replied.
“Let me know. What is it?” Abdulla asked.
“Among the two guys who came out of the jeep to thrust the injured man one had sport shoes and another guy had burgundy coloured shiny leather shoes just like that of the police officers.” Theo replied.
“Sukran. Got it. You gave me a breakthrough. “Abdulla seemed more ebullient and positive vibe endowed him to resolve the case.
Abdulla then checked the call details and call triangulation record of the police officers including Gabriel and got shocked by what he found-
At around 2:00PM that very day the mobile of another officer named Francisco was around the location of shootout. Then Abdulla inquired him. During interrogation he revealed that they had made a contract with the terrorist group to kill Peter. Since, new strict jailer is soon replacing this incumbent, it was doubtful for them that he could seal his lips any longer. So, he was growing dangerous for them. Pretending bank heist they had planned to kill him.
“However, our plan failed when some other person tried to shot him with a bullet prior to our man.” Francisco lamented.
”We had planned a bank heist. In this plan Peter would go inside the bank and wash off all the cash threatening the security guard and other staff with the revolver we had given to him. When he come back the guard would stop him aiming his rifle. Then Peter then points him with his revolver. However, his revolver is already empty. Taking advantage of the situation the guard would shoot him point blank and kill him on the spot. The guard would be promoted because of his daredevil action and there would be no inquiry for Peter. Gaining the hefty sum of looted money, terrorist would purchase explosives and state-of-the art destructive tech.” He added further.
Now, the whole picture became clear like a kaleidoscope vision. The only confusion is the mystery of the first bullet.
Meanwhile, some bullet were found missing from the jail. The lost bullet specification exactly matched with the bullet found embedded in the dog’s body.
Investigation revealed that a police officer Lucas shot that bullet through his gun. During interrogation he explained that he had overheard the conversation between the terrorist leader and Gabriel to release Peter. Disparaged by the conversation, he tried to take back the ball in his court. He made a plan to use this opportunity to unearth the corruption and fraudulent activities undergoing secretly inside the jail. In verso, it is likely to save the life of Peter; albeit, he is notorious and homicide culprit.
“However, my shot went so fiercely that it penetrated his shoulder and imbedded inside the body of stray dog. Scared, I eloped abruptly.” Lucas explained.
Abdulla finally exposed the culprits behind this conspiracy and handed his case file over the court.
Hearing this dreadful story the jury members took about three hours and declared life sentences for Gabriel, Francisco and five other police officers whereas Lucas was released off this case being not guilty. Soon he was promoted for his brevity and being stick to the law and rules of the nation. Now, he is appointed as the new jailer. On the other hand, bank security guard is taken into custody whereas bank manager and few tellers has been terminated.
(The author is a secondary level science teacher)
