Sirajul Haque killed sixty Hindus

A freedom fighter yesterday told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that war crimes accused Sheikh Sirajul Haque stabbed to death one Gobina Das of Ranjitpur in Bagerhat during the Liberation War.

“He also stabbed and injured one Soilen Das,” said Dilip Das, the first prosecution witness in the war crimes case.

In his testimony, the witness said on May 13, 1971 Sirajul along with other Razakars attacked Ranjitpur, a Hindu-majority village, situated some 18 kilometres away from Bagerhat town, and killed around 60 people, mostly Hindus.

Dilip said after the incident, the war crimes accused became known as “Siraj Kosai [butcher]”.

The freedom fighter said he along with others took shelter in a nearby bush and returned to the village after the Razakars left. “We buried the bodies,” he said.

Dilip said supporters and activists of Muslim League formed Razakar, auxiliary force to Pakistani occupation army, after the proclamation of independence on March 26, 1971. Sirajul became deputy commander of the Razakar force.

The proceedings of the case were adjourned until December 4.

ICT-2

Meanwhile, ICT-2 yesterday took into cognisance the eight war crimes charges brought against Forkan Mallik of Patuakhali for his alleged involvement in war crimes.

On November 17, the prosecution pressed the charges, including mass killing, murder, rape, arson and forced religious conversion, allegedly committed by Forkan during the Liberation War.

In presence of 63-year-old Forkan of Chailabunia village in Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali, the three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan fixed December 9 for hearing the charges.

Earlier on June 25, the Detective Branch of police arrested Forkan at Rupatali Bus Stand in Barisal. He was later shown arrested in the war crimes case. An investigation agency of the tribunals completed investigation into the allegations against him on October 27.