HC acquits Babar, commutes Paresh’s sentence in arms haul case
The High Court on Wednesday acquitted former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and six others in the 2004 Chattogram arms haul case, while commuting the death sentence of Indian separatist leader Paresh Barua to life imprisonment.
Six other convicts had their death penalties reduced to 10 years in prison.
On January 30, 2014, the Metropolitan Special Tribunal-1 in Chattogram sentenced all 14 accused to death under the Special Powers Act, 1974, for smuggling 10 truckloads of weapons.
The High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasreen Akter delivered the verdict after concluding hearings on the death references and appeals filed by the convicts.
The case dates back to April 2, 2004, when authorities seized a massive cache of arms and ammunition at the Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited jetty while it was being loaded onto trucks. The weapons were reportedly destined for the Indian separatist group United Liberation Front of Asom. Smuggling and arms-related cases were filed the next day with Karnaphuli Police Station.
The list of convicts includes former director generals of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence and National Security Intelligence retired major general Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, retired brigadier general Abdur Rahim, retired wing commander Shahabuddin Ahmed, former NSI deputy director retired major Liaquat Hossain, NSI field officer Akbar Hossain Khan, former industries ministry additional secretary Nurul Amin, and the military wing commander of the United Liberation Front of Assam Paresh Barua.
Abdur Rahim died in custody in 2021, while Paresh Barua remains absconding and was convicted in absentia.
News Courtesy:
New Age | HC acquits Babar, commutes Paresh’s sentence in arms haul case
