Muhibur, Mujibur helped Pakistanis rape woman

A war crimes case's seventh prosecution witness yesterday testified that Muhibur Rahman Boromia and his brother Mujibur Rahman Angur Mia helped the Pakistani occupation army men rape and torture his sister in Habiganj's Baniachang upazila during the 1971 Liberation War.

Allad Miah, 70, also linked, before International Crimes Tribunal-1, the two and their cousin Abdur Razzak to another rape, killing of two people, injuring of one and several incidents of looting and arson.

The tribunal directed the prosecution to submit an investigation report, if there is any, on January 15 against seven Netrakona men who were allegedly involved in crimes committed during the Liberation War.

Moreover, it granted a prosecution's petition seeking the interrogation of two Moulvibazar war crimes accused, each for a day, at the investigation agency's safe home on November 18 and 19.

Ujer Ahmed, 60, of Goashpur village and Yunus Ahmed, 65, of Sonatiki village under Rajnagar Police Station were arrested on October 13 following an arrest warrant the tribunal issued for five alleged Razakar and Al-Badr force members. The remaining three are on the run.

Habiganj Three

Allad said Muhibur, Mujibur and Razzak along with several Razakars and 15 to 16 Pakistani army men attacked houses of General MA Rob in Khagaura village on October 26.

They then torched 15 to 16 houses in nearby Hindu-populated areas and that of freedom fighter Kamla Mia and Nuruzzaman in their Eralia Beripar Uttarpara village, he said.

Allad said they went to Manjab Ali's house whose wife was then raped by the Pakistani army. He said he hid nearby and witnessed the brothers showing the Pakistani army their house in which the atrocities were committed before the attackers left.

Allad, however, did mention that his sister committed suicide a few days later, as stated in the charge.

He said 15 days later, he saw the three and several other Razakars taking to a nearby Razakar camp Akal Ali, who was never seen again.

Later that day, he went to Akal's house and found the body of Rajab Ali containing bullet wounds. Akal's family members told him that Muhibur shot Rajab dead, he added.

He said the same men took Anfar Ullah of their village to Razakar camp in the Bangla month of Bhadra and returned him the next day after breaking his hands and legs.

Defence counsels completed cross-examining Allad before the three-member tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Hauqe adjourned proceedings until November 19. The three deny the four charges.

7 Netrakona men

Earlier in the day, prosecutor Tapos Kanti Baul submitted a progress report on the probe and sought two more months to complete investigations against the seven.

Ahmmad Ali, 72, Abdur Rahman, 68, Sheikh Mohammad Abdul Majid, 67, Abdul Khaleq Talukder, 67, Kabir Khan, 70, Mohammad Nuruddin, 70 and Salam Begh, 65, are from Purbadhala upazila.

Police arrested Ahmmad and Abdur hours after the tribunal issued arrest warrant for the seven on August 12. Ahmmad died of old age complication on October 29 while the remaining five are on the run, Tapos said.

According to the investigation agency, the accused were involved with the anti-liberation Muslim League and Nezam-e-Islami in 1971 and later joined Razakar Bahini.