Hearing on SQ Chy's appeal against death penalty continues at SC for fourth day

A defence lawyer yesterday read out before the Supreme Court the prosecution witnesses' statements on the charge against war criminal Salauddin Quader Chowdhury of killing 32 Hindu people in Chittagong during the Liberation War.

SM Shahjahan placed the statements during the fourth day's hearing on the appeal against Salauddin's death sentence given by International Crimes Tribunal-1 on October 1, 2013 for committing crimes against humanity during the war.

The SC will resume hearing today.

According to the charge, on April 13, 1971 Salauddin along with his accomplices and the Pakistani army men raided Jogotmollopara area in Raozan and one of the military men had opened fire to the innocent villagers assembled in the courtyard of Kiron Bikash Chowdhury, leaving 32 Hindu people dead and three other people seriously injured.

The houses were looted and destroyed and later some people had to deport to India, said the charge.

The ICT-1 sentenced Salauddin to 20 years' imprisonment each on three charges, including that of killing of the 32 people.

The tribunal gave him death penalty on four charges -- his involvement in two acts of genocide, the killing of Natun Chandra Singha, and Awami League leader Mozaffar Ahmed and his son in Raozan of Chittagong. He was also sentenced to five years' each on two other charges

On October 29, 2013, the BNP leader appealed to the apex court against the verdict.