Another witness accuses Jabbar
Another prosecution witness has testified that on orders of war crimes accused Abdul Jabbar, Razakars forced around 200 Hindus to convert to Islam at the end of May during the Liberation War.
In his deposition before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday, Mohendra Adhikari, 84, the 14th prosecution witness, said Razakars -- an auxiliary group to the Pakistan occupation army -- changed his name to "Mahbub Khan" after forcing him to accept Islam as his religion.
So far, four victims of the forced conversion at Phuljhuri village of Pirojpur testified before the tribunals and all of them gave almost similar depositions.
The witness said about 30-40 Razakars led by Jabbar and the Pakistani occupation army attacked his village on May 17, 1971 and looted and set fire to about 360 houses.
About 8 to 10 days later, Razakars and Peace Committee members came to the village and told them that Jabbar had given them instructions that Hindus should convert to Islam if they want to live.
“Afraid for our lives, we conceded to accept Islam,” he said. Two to three days after, several “converted Muslims” were forced to eat beef.
State appointed defence counsel Mohammad Abul Hasan cross-examined the witness after the deposition.
Earlier, Bimal Chandra Bepari, Dilip Kumar Paik and Janoprashad Paik gave deposition on the forced conversion.
The proceedings of the case were adjourned until today.
Former Jatiya Party lawmaker Jabbar, who was chairman of Mathbaria Peace Committee in Pirojpur in 1971, is facing five charges for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
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