Two prosecution witnesses yesterday described the anti-liberation activities of Jamaat-e-Islami leader AKM Yusuf, who allegedly formed a Razakar force that collaborated with the Pakistani occupation army during the 1971 Liberation War.
The defence also started cross-examining the second witness before the tribunal was adjourned till tomorrow.
The day’s second witness, Mukul Rani Das, the wife of martyr Santi Ranjan Das, told the International Crimes Tribunal that AKM Yusuf, along with some Razakar and Pakistani army personnel, surrounded their family house on May 19, 1971.
“They captured five members of our family with my beloved husband. The others were brothers-in-law Satya Ranjan Das, Keshab Ranjan Das, younger brother Shangkar Das and uncle Santosh Kumar Das.”
She also said the uncle returned home after the Razakars freed him later that night.
“I asked him, where are the others? Uncle said Yusuf Saheb ordered to confine them. After two or three hours we heard the sound of gunshots and my mother-in-law started crying saying what had they done with her sons? But we were not confirmed yet. Just on the following day, we came to know that all of them had been murdered, but we never found their bodies,” Mukul Rani Das said.
The witness added that Pijush Kanti Ghorai – another prosecution witness in the case – had seen the murder and confirmed the family about the deaths. The family later went to India, and returned after liberation.
After the deposition, the court fell silent as Mukul – with teary eyes – pleaded the tribunal to ensure justice for the murders of her relatives and beloved.
Defence counsel Saiful Islam also cross-examined Mukul, which remained unfinished. The tribunal set tomorrow for further proceedings.
Earlier in the day, the day’s first witness Pijush Ghorai told the court that he knew the accused AKM Yusuf, as he hailed from the neighbouring village of Soronkhola.
Pijush also described the murder of Santi Ranjan Das, saying: “On May 19, I was at home. Some Razakars came under the order of Yusuf and captured me. When we reached the Launch Ghaat, I saw Santi Ranjan, Satya Ranjan, Amar Lal Das and Keshab Chandra Das. Razakars shot them and fortunately, Amar Lal escaped from there.”
Pijush said AKM Yusuf, nayeb-e-ameer of Jamaat, was also a top leader of Jamaat during the war.