Evidence found against Jessore AL man, four others

The investigation agency of International Crimes Tribunal yesterday said to have found evidence against five Jessore men including a local Awami League activist over their alleged involvement in crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

The accused were “involved” with Razakar Bahini, an auxiliary force of the Pakistan army, during the war, the agency's Coordinator Abdul Hannan Khan said at a press conference at its Dhanmondi office.

They were also “involved” with torturing and killing six people in Bagharpara Police Station in the district, he said.

Of the accused, Amjad Hossain Mollah, 77, is now in jail. The agency declined to reveal information of the other accused as they were not arrested yet.

Amjad, who was the commander of Bandabila Union Razakar Bahini, was involved with Muslim League during the Liberation War. Currently he is affiliated with the ruling party, said Sanaul Huq, co-coordinator of the agency.

Abdur Razzak Khan, the case's investigation officer, said Amjad joined Awami League in October 2016, six months before the beginning of the investigation on April 26, 2017.

Razzak said the agency will hand over the probe report and other documents to the chief prosecutor's office today and will also tell the prosecution to take necessary actions to secure arrest of the four other accused.

The four incidents of crimes they were “involved” in are: torturing and killing two brothers -- Mayenuddin and Ayenuddin -- of Chandpur village; confining and killing Nowfel Uddin Biswas of the same village; torturing and killing Surat Ali Biswas and Mokter Biswas of Gadaighat village; and torturing and killing Rajab Ali Biswas of Simakhali.

The agency cited 40 people as potential prosecution witnesses in the case.