Subhan involved in mass killing

A freedom fighter yesterday linked Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdus Subhan with a mass killing that had taken place at two villages in Pabna during the Liberation War in 1971.
Momtaz Uddin Montu, from Pabna Sadar, said he had seen the Pakistan army shooting a person dead following a “signal” from Subhan when the intruding army was carrying out atrocities in neighbouring villages on May 11, 1971.
Subhan organised the anti-liberation elements in Pabna immediately after the Pakistan army had taken over the northern district in April and built up connection with them, Momtaz, 15th prosecution witness in the case against Subhan, told the International Crimes Tribunal-2.
The 66-year-old witness also said Pakistan army killed a woman while a child was on her lap and the child, who is now a lecturer at a college, had survived mysteriously.
Subhan, nayeb-e-ameer of Jamaat, faces nine charges, including genocide committed in Pabna during the nine-month-long war. He, however, pleaded not guilty before the tribunal.
Momtaz, during his hour-long testimony, said the Pakistan army had started mass killings in Pabna on the night of March 25 but had to retreat in the face of public resistance on March 29. Pabna had remained free until April 11, he added.
As the army entered Pabna on April 11, Subhan organised the anti-liberation forces there, said Momtaz, adding that he had built up rapport with the army and given them a list of pro-liberation people, Awami League supporters and Hindus.
The witness said in the first week of May, he had heard that a meeting was held at Pabna deputy commissioner's office to from Peace Committee and Subhan became general secretary of the anti-liberation platform.
Momtaz had also held a meeting with student leader Shahidullah and five/seven others at a primary school at their neighbouring village Fulunia on May 11, he added.
The witness said they, from the school, had seen Subhan in a white car approaching Dogachi village around 10:00am and returning within half an hour.
Momtaz said they had also seen a Pakistani army convoy accompanied by Subhan approaching around 11:30am and as the convoy stopped near the school, they hid in a nearby bush.
“From the bush I saw Samujuddin coming out of his house to hide inside a bamboo orchard, but the Pakistani army shot him dead as Subhan made a signal with his hand,” said Momtaz.
The Pakistan army had also shot Rahatan and Hasina, wives of Samujuddin and Aminuddin respectively, killing Hasina dead on the spot, while Rahatan succumbed to her injuries after a few days, added Momtaz.
Subhan and the army had gone to Khoda Baksh's house and killed several people there, he said, adding, “I witnessed the incidents from the bush and the spot was around 50/100 yards away from my position.”
Afterwards, Subhan and the Pakistani army had approached Dogachi and around 12:00pm they heard gunshots and saw flames there, said Momtaz.
The witness further said as the attackers had left the area around 1:30pm, he and his associates saw the bodies at Fulunia before reaching Dogachi.
As they entered Dogachi, they saw two bodies at Haripada Saha's home yard and found his house and temple torched. They had approached Dogachi Bazar and found the bodies of Haripada and Renu Saha on a road, added Momtaz.
He said as they had gone to the western part of their village, they found six bodies on the corridor of Dogachi Jame Masjid and found the body of Hekmat's mother beside the mosque.
“We also found a minor boy beside her body who was Hekmat's son… Probably, the grandmother of the boy was shot dead while fleeing, but the boy survived mysteriously,” said Momtaz.
The witness added he along with his associates had left for India the following day and after receiving training they returned to take part the in the war.
Subhan's lawyer Mizanul Islam asked only one question before the three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan, with members Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam, adjourned the proceedings until today.
Momtaz is set to face further cross-examination today.