Taher, Nani implicated again in Netrakona-6 murder

Another prosecution witness yesterday linked war crimes accused Obaidul Haque Taher and Ataur Rahman Nani to the murder of six people, including the witness's brother, in Netrakona during the Liberation War.   

Amir Uddin, elder brother of martyr Siddiqur Rahman of Kamalgati village in Netrakona, told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that he had seen Taher and Nani torture his brother and others, who were later killed, in Netrakona town on November 15, 1971.

Earlier, Ayesha Akhter, sister of another victim, and her son Abdul Mannan Sabuj of Nagendra Nagar village in Netrakona gave almost similar accounts of the incident.

Amir, 11th prosecution witness in the case against Taher and Nani, said he heard gunshots around 11:00am on the day from Birmapur Bazar, where his brother Siddiqur was. When he went there, he saw that Taher and Nani detained his brother, Badiuzzaman Mukta, Abdul Malek Shanta, Islam Uddin, Ismail and Lebu and took them to the town, Amir said.

Amir said he saw Taher shoot Lebu dead near Laxmiganj Ferry Ghat as they thought Lebu was a Hindu.

The 82-year-old witness said he along with some others saw that Taher and Nani torture the detainees in Old Session Court area. When they went there again the following morning, they heard that the detainees were shot dead and saw Taher and Nani rejoicing by shooting blanks, Amir said. 

Amir said they found Siddiqur's body two days later. After the defence completed Amir's cross-examination, the tribunal adjourned the case proceedings till July 26.

Taher and Nani face six charges. They, however, pleaded not guilty before the tribunal.