A prosecution witness on Sunday said war crimes suspect Abdul Alim formed the Peace Committee and Razakar forces in Joypurhat comprising Jamaat-e-Islami men, madrasa students and local non-Bangalees.
The 23rd witness, Mohammad Abdul Hye, at the International Crimes Tribunal 2 also said Alim, a former BNP lawmaker, was involved in the killing of his brother along with two others, and extorted money from his father during the Liberation War of 1971.
He said he heard gunshots when 26 youths were killed after a photo-session of Alim with a Pakistani army officer. The witness earlier gave the investigation officer the photo.
From Akkelpur of Joypurhat, Abdul Hye testified that following Alim’s advice, a Pakistani army camp was established in the area in 1971, after which the army, Razakars and Peace Committee engaged in killing, rape, arson and looting.
The tribunal of Justice Obaidul Hasan, Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Judge M Shahinur Islam on June 11 last year, indicted Alim on 17 charges, including the killing of 26 youths near Joypurhat Railway Station.
After Sunday’s deposition, the tribunal set June 12 as the date for further procedure for the case.
An organiser of the Liberation War, Abdul Hye said his brother Fazlul Karim and two others were confined on October 7, 1971 and they were taken in front of the CO office (sub-divisional circle office) in Joypurhat the next day.
The 62-year-old witness said, in front of the CO office, army officer Major Afzal and Alim spoke at an open meeting. Through a loudspeaker, they said those involved in the Liberation War were enemies of the country. On a truck, there were three youths including the brother of the witness, Fazlul Karim.
“Then Alim said: ‘The freedom fighters and the Awami League are trying to destroy the country. Confined Fazlu is a son of my friend. I asked my friend several times to help his son move away from the wrong path. But he did not so. Now, they must die.”
“The next day, the faces of my brother and the two others were painted with black ink and they were put on a truck and it moved around Joypurhat the whole day. From the truck, the Pakistan army, Razakars and peace committee members announced that whoever helps the freedom fighters will face a similar fate.”
He told the tribunal that the three were killed at Khanjanpur Kuthibari, and that the family has failed to trace the body.
Abdul Hye also claimed that his father late Abdur Rahim Mandal had paid Alim Tk15,000 in September, 1971 as he and two others – Nur Bakht and Azim Uddin Sarder – demanded Tk25,000.