90 pc accused freed for lack of evidence, weak probe

In many cases the allegations are found to be false, court sources said.

Only 44 of the 1795 accused were punished under the Act by the Special Tribunal in the last two and half years since it started functioning here on January 1, 2002.

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Till March 31 this year, the Tribunal took up 1761 cases for trial. Among those, 1104 cases were disposed of and 657 are under trial now.

A total of 487 cases were lodged in 2002. Of those, 142 were disposed of in which 12 accused were punished and 548 acquitted.

In 2003, over 608 cases were lodged and 360 of those were disposed of. Twenty-six accused were punished and 1082 were acquitted.

This year, 155 cases were lodged till March 31, of which 666 were disposed of. Six accused were punished and 149 were released after trial.

When contacted, Special Public Prosecutor Mohsin Montu of the Tribunal said allegations could not be proved because the cases were false or investigations were week.

Nurul Amin, OC of Barisal Kotwali thana, when contacted said, "We make investigation reports on the basis of statements by complainants and witnesses.

"We give final report when the allegation can not be proved".

Most of the cases prove false. Enmity is behind many cases.

On other hand, a large number of cases involved young men and girls who fled homes due to affair. Their parents filed cases after they fled homes, the OC said.