Syed Hasan indicted on six war crimes charges
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday indicted Syed Md Hasan Ali, an alleged Razakar commander now in hiding, on six charges of crimes against humanity and genocide in Kishoreganj during the Liberation War in 1971.
The three-member tribunal chaired by Jusitce M Enayetur Rahim fixed December 7 for the start of the trial and read out all the charges, which include torching and looting of seven houses of one Hasan Ahmed of Sachail village on April 27, complicity in killing of one Tofazzal, abduction of two other people and burning of two houses of Konabhawal village on August 23, and involvement in killing of 12 persons and torching of 10 houses in Shimulhati village on September 9.
Syed Hasan was also charged with the killing of eight people and abduction of 10 others in Borgaon village on September 27, abduction and murder of Kamini Kumar Ghosh and Jibon Chakravarty and looting of Ghosh's house in Araiura village on October 8, and links to the killing of Rashid Ali Bepari and torching of 100 houses in Sachail village on December 11.
According to the prosecution, Hassan, 65, alleged commander of Tarail unit of Razakar in Kishoreganj, set up a camp of the anti-liberation force at Tarail Police Station on April 23, 1971.
Hasan who originally hailed from Brahmanbaria had been living in Tarail with his family for many years, including the period of the war. Though not active in politics now, he was once involved with Nezam-e-Islami, another anti-liberation organisation.
JABBAR'S CASE
The 22nd prosecution witness yesterday testified against fugitive war crimes accused Abdul Jabbar, a former Jatiya Party lawmaker, over the killing of his brother-in-law before the tribunal.
The witness, Bidhan Chandra Kirtonia, said Jabbar accompanied by Razakars attacked their Noli village on May 22, 1971, and at one stage they opened fire on the villagers.
“My brother-in-law Surendra Nath Biswas and his brothers Jitendra Nath Biswas and Upendra Nath Biswas were shot dead,” said Bidhan, who witnessed the killing in person.
On that day, 11 villagers were killed, he said.
The defence cross-examined the witness before the proceeding was adjourned till today.
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