Another PW links 3

The 10th prosecution witness in a war crimes case yesterday linked the three Habiganj accused to the killing of two persons, rape of two women and arson and looting, vividly describing the crimes committed in Habiganj during the 1971 Liberation War.

Muhibur Rahman Boromia, his brother Mujibur Rahman Angur Mia and their cousin Abdur Razzak pleaded not guilty to the four charges they face before International Crimes Tribunal-1.

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Mohammad Abdul Mosabber, a resident of Khagaura Eralia village under Baniachang upazila in Habiganj, said he was 21 years old during the Liberation War and ran a shop in his village.

Around 10:00am on October 26, 1971, he said to have seen from a road near his house the three accused, some Razakars and 10 to 12 men of the Pakistani occupation army entering and subsequently looting and torching houses of Col Rob.

After they left the area, Mosabber said to have gone to the residence where Rob's nephew Khasru Miah and two others told him that the three and some Razakars committed the crimes.

He said the three and other Razakars also looted his shop and the house of a freedom fighter, "Chairman Nuruzzaman".

Then, two Pakistani army men raped a woman in Nuruzzaman's neighbour's house after Muhibur showed them the place, he said, adding that Mujibur showed another house where the two army men raped another woman.

Afterwards, Mosabber went to the victims' houses where the victims and their relatives told him about what happened, said the witness.

Around 4:00pm on November 11, he said to have heard gunshots from Khagura Bazar and 10 to 15 minutes later seen the three accused and others forcibly taking a freedom fighter, Akal Ali, towards a Razakar camp set up in the house of one Kamrul Ahsan.

Mosabber said he went to Akal's house and found the body of one Rajab Ali.

He said Akal's wife Bhingraj Bibi, Sabuj Ali, Mostar Ali and some others told him that Muhibur shot Rajab dead and Mujibur, Razzak and other Razakars took Akal away to a Razakar camp. Later, the accused persons and other Razakars killed Akal, he added. Mosabber said halfway through the Bangla month of Bhadra, he saw the three accused and some other Razakars take one Anfar Ali to a Razakar camp before torturing and releasing him.

Anfar too informed him that the three accused tortured him and broke his right hand, said Mosabber.

Defence counsels completed cross-examining the witness before the tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque adjourned proceedings until February 7.