Verdict on 5 Patuakhali 'razakars' any day

International Crimes Tribunal-1 will deliver its verdict any day in a case filed against five persons from Patuakhali for their alleged involvement of crimes committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

The three-member tribunal led by Kustice Md Shahinur Islam kept the case waiting for verdict after both the prosecution and defence completed their closing arguments, prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman told The Daily Star.

The accused are Abdus Salam Sikder, 65, former UP chairman of Amkhola UP under Galachipa upazila, Alauddin Sikder, 85, also former UP chairman of Auliapur union parishad under Patuakhali Sadar upazila and Nesar Uddin Sikder, 70, Abdur Rob Sikder, 70, and Abdul Mannan Jomaddar, 65, of different villages in Galachipa.

They are facing charges of killings and rapes.

According to the case, at about 9:00 am on November 9 in 1971, the aforesaid accused stormed the house of Motaleb Sarder, a freedom fighter and caught him.

Later, Alauddin Sikder shot Motaleb dead with a rifle at the instruction of Abdus Salam Sikder. The accused also set Motaleb's house on fire.

All the accused are now in jail.