The fourth prosecution witness finished giving his deposition to the war crimes tribunal on Sunday, against former Awami League leader Mobarak Hossain for his alleged involvement in committing crimes against humanity in Akhaura, Brahmanbaria during the 1971 Liberation War.
The defence is set to cross-examine the witness from Tuesday.
Khadem Hossain Khan, 64, gave his deposition to International Crimes Tribunal 1 (ICT-1) led by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir.
Hossain said “Razakars” led by Mobarak and Pakistani soldiers arrested him in November 1971 when he was returning home after visiting his ailing teacher Ismail Hossain, who took him to an army camp located next to Brahmanbaria College.
He said: “When we reached the camp, Mobarak told a Pakistani army person, ‘this man is Mukti [freedom fighter], he is very dangerous. He helps freedom fighters by collecting information about us.’ After that they tortured me inhumanly.”
“They tied me to a window and applied electric shock repeatedly. I lost conscious and when I woke up, I found myself in Brahmanbaria jail. There I met many of my neighbours including Siraj Mia and Malek Mia, who were also tortured by Mobarak. They told me Mobarak went to their homes and abducted them.”
The prosecution witness said Awami League leaders released him after the war.
Khadem Hossain was an informer and security person with the “Mukti Bahini”. After March 26, 1971 he went to India for training.
Mobarak is accused of five charges, which include killing 33 people in Akhaura, torturing Ashuranjan Deb at a Razakar camp, as well as of abductions and killings in Shyampur, between August and December 1971.
According to the charge sheet, after the war Mobarak was a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami’s union unit in Akhaura, he joined the Awami League but was expelled from the party two years ago.