War crimes evidence found against 5 M'singh men: ICT investigators

Investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) yesterday claimed to have found evidence against five Mymensingh men over their alleged involvement in crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

They were involved with Razakar Bahini (an auxiliary force of Pakistan occupation army) and committed crimes including killing 45 people, abducting seven and raping a woman in Dhobaura upazila of Mymensingh, agency officials said.

Agency coordinator Abdul Hannan Khan and co-coordinator Sanaul Huq revealed the information at a press conference at the agency's Dhanmondi office.

Among the five accused, three -- Kitab Ali Fakir, 85, Zonab Ali, 68, and Abdul Kuddus, 62, -- are now in jail. The agency officials did not disclose names of two others as they were yet to be arrested. All the accused are from Dhobaura upazila.

Arrest warrants have already been issued against them, said Sanaul Huq.

The accused were involved with either Jamaat-e-Islami or Muslim League, two anti-liberation parties, in 1971 and now they are affiliated with BNP, Hannan Khan said.

Later in the day, Monowara Begum, the case's investigation officer, handed over the probe report and other documents to the tribunal's chief prosecutor office. The prosecution will scrutinise those and if satisfied, press charges against the accused.

'683 COMPLAINTS AGAINST MORE THAN 3,500'

Hannan Khan said 28 cases are at pre-trial or trial stage while 25 cases are now at investigation level. “We have so far received 683 complaints against more than 3,500 people. It's not possible to dispose of those complaints without increasing the number of tribunals.”

He said they have collected list of razakars from all districts but it was not conclusive.

“If the Liberation War Affairs Ministry takes initiative to make a formal list of razakars, then the agency can help with information. Making a complete list does not fall within our jurisdiction,” he added.