Mahidur, Afsar murdered 24 in Chapainawabganj
War crimes accused Mahidur Rahman and Afsar Hossain Chutu were involved in the murders of around 24 people and the looting of 70-80 houses in different villages of Chapainawabganj in October during the Liberation War, testified the first prosecution witness yesterday.
Speaking before the International Crimes Tribunal-2, sexagenarian witness Ahasan Habib, also a freedom fighter, said after training in India he joined the Liberation War camp at Binodpur High School in Chapainawabganj.
The camp employed some freedom fighters as informants who provided information on the movement of Razakars.
From the informants, Habib learnt that in the morning of October 6, 1971, Mahidur and Afsar along with others, under the leadership of Razakar commander Moazzem Hossain, brutally tortured 16 to 17 Chandshikari villagers on the Binodpur High School playground.
“At one stage, they [villagers] were forced to stand in queue while Razakars -- Mahidur Rahman, Afsar Hossain and Gafur Jola -- opened fire on them. Twelve died on the spot and four to five persons managed to flee,” the witness said.
Habib also learnt that on the same day, Mahidur, Afsar and Gafur caught about 20 persons and tortured them at the school.
“The following evening, I learnt that among those detained, six to seven people were released and the rest were shot by Moazzem, Mahidur, Afsar and Gafur on the playground. Twelve were killed on the spot, while two sustained injuries,” he said.
The injured -- Jakaria and Fosi Alam Satu -- are now cripples, he added.
About six days later, Habib came to know that Moazzem, Mahidur, Gafur and Afsar looted valuables from 70 to 80 houses in villages Kobirajtola and Eradat Biswasher Tola and set those on fire, he said.
The defence cross-examined the witness. Proceedings of the case were adjourned till today.
The duo are facing three charges for their alleged involvement in mass killing, arson, looting, abduction and torture committed in Chapainawabganj during the Liberation War. They claimed themselves 'innocent'.
TRIBUNAL-1
Meanwhile, 16th prosecution witness Solaiman Sarder yesterday corroborated the testimony of 15th prosecution witness Sohrab Nakib who testified against Khan Akram Hossain and Abdul Latif Talukder on Sunday.
On December 13, 1971, Solaiman along with six fellow freedom fighters, including Sohrab and Fazlur Rahman, was going to Teligati village to see his ailing mother. On the way, Razakars caught Fazlur in Muchibari.
War crimes accused Khan Akram Hossain and Abdul Latif Talukder and other Razakars took Fazlur to the bank of a nearby canal and shot him dead.
Abdul Latif and Akram are facing three charges in the war crimes case.
The proceedings of the case were adjourned till today.
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