Murder, Rape, Looting During '71 War

8 sued in Khulna, one arrested in Rajshahi

22 April 2009, 18:00 PM

Star National Desk

Eight alleged collaborators of Pakistani occupation forces were sued in Khulna yesterday while another was arrested in Rajshahi the day before for war crimes in 1971. Our Staff Correspondent from Khulna reported that Munshi Ruhul Amin, son of late Munshi Abu Tayeb of Rayermahal under Khalishpur Police Station, filed a petition case against eight 'rajakar' with Khulna Metropolitan Magistrate's Court yesterday. The accused are Sheikh Zahidul Islam, Khan Abdul Aziz, Sheikh Arjan Ali, Sheikh Jamaluddin, Sheikh Shamsur Rahman, Sheikh Abdus Sattar, Torab Ali and Sheikh Abu Taleb. They were sued for murder, rape and looting in Rayermahal area during the Liberation War in 1971. The court asked the officer-in-charge (OC) of Khalishpur Police Station to record the case after proper investigation. In the petition, the complainant stated that the accused stabbed his younger brother Munshi Firoze, set their house on fire and looted money and gold ornaments on May 22, 1971. He alleged that the collaborators killed two freedom fighters-- Abdus Shaheed of Baro Boyra and Md Sohrab Ali of Goalkhali under Khalishpur Police Station--the same day. Munshi Ruhul Amin further alleged that the accused were also involved in looting, rape and arson in the area under the leadership of 'rajakar' commander Sheikh Zahidul Islam, one of the accused, during the War of Independence. In Rajshahi, an alleged war criminal, arrested on Tuesday, was placed on a three-day remand yesterday. Abdul Jabbar Sarker, an assistant teacher of Ujankhalsi High School under Durgapur upazila, was arrested in connection with a murder occurred during the Liberation War in 1971, according to our staff correspondent. Police produced him before the Judicial Magistrate's Court yesterday seeking a five-day remand. But the court granted three days remand for him. Alim Uddin Mridha of Hoja Alantakandi village filed the case with the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, Rajshahi, on April 12 accusing 13 alleged collaborators of Pakistani occupation forces of killing his father Bahar Uddin Mridha on April 13, 1971. The court then asked the police to take legal action on the complaint. Following the court order, Durgapur police recorded the case and arrested Abdur Jabbar, one of the 13 accused. Other accused are Abdul Wahed Mollah, Akbar Mridha, Abdus Sobhan Sarker, Abdul Jabbar Paik, Samjan Sarker, Abdus Samad, Sohrab Ali, Hamid, Abdul Gafur, Yoyen Uddin, Jonab and Altaf. Of the accused, Abdul Wahed Mollah, who was the chief of Durgapur thana peace committee during the Liberation War, is now a BNP leader.