Mahid, Chutu to die in jail for war crimes
The three-judge International Crimes Tribunal -2 on Wednesday unanimously sentenced Md Mahidur Rahman and Md Afsar Hossain Chutu to imprisonment until death finding them guilty of war crimes in several villages in Chapainawabganj in 1971.They were found guilty of abducting 39 villagers in Chapainawabganj and killing 24 of them in October 1971.
The duo, with fellow Razakar force members, were found guilty of abducting 39 villagers from Chandshikari, Chamatola, Kabirajtola and Eradot Biswasertola under Shibganj in Chapainawabganj on October 6, 1971 and October 7, 1971 and killing 24 of them.In a two to one decision the tribunal, also jailed each of them for five years finding them guilty of arson attacks, looting and other crimes against humanity in Kobirajtola and Eradot Biswasertola under Shibganj on October 13, 1971.Pronouncing the verdict, the presiding judge, Justice Obaidul Hassan, said both the sentences will run concurrently.
Two other judges, Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam were present.The tribunal, however, dropped the third and the charge of abduction, confinement and murder of four villagers from Sherpur Vandar on November 2, 1971 as the two war offenders were earlier sentenced to life term terms by a special tribunal under Collaborators Order 1972 saying they got the protection of the ‘doctrine of double jeopardy.’The tribunal said that the duo deserved death sentences for the targeted killing of 24 civilians but were awarded ‘sentences of imprisonment for life till death’ considering their previous prosecution, conviction and sentence.The tribunal scolded the investigation officer in the case, ZM Altafur Rahman as ‘incompetent’ for bringing a charge against the duo for which they were tried and punished in 1972.The tribunal directed the war crimes investigation agency to assign competent officers to probe the charges against suspects.Mahid, 84, comes from the village Dadanchak (Kaitanitola) and Chutu, 65, from Satrashia (Rasunchak), both under Shibganj in Chapainawabganj.They were also found guilty of joining the Razakar force in 1971 to collaborate with the Pakistani occupation army.
The tribunal found the evidence that in 1971, the duo lived in a local Razakar camp and committed various atrocities together with the fellow members of the Razakar force.
Both were members of Muslim League.It was the 18th verdict in as many war crimes cases in Bangladesh.For the ICT-2, it was the 10th verdict.Indicted on December 11, 2014, the trial of the duo began on January 12, 2014 and was completed on April 22.During the trial,10 prosecution witnesses gave evidence against the duo. The defence produced no witnesses.Until now, 20 war offenders have been convicted, 14 of them leaders of Jamaat and Islami Chattra Sangha, five Convention Muslim League leaders and one is the son of a Convention Muslim League leader.Of the 20 convicts, 14 were sentenced to death and six to varying jail terms.Verdict in one case is pending in the ICT-1 and the trials of six suspects in three cases are continuing.
- See more at: http://newagebd.net/121799/mahid-chutu-to-die-in-jail-for-war-crimes/#sthash.YNFF6TV7.dpuf
