Fifth prosecution witness Nirmal Shil of the Banshkhali carnage case yesterday said the attackers set his house on fire in a pre-planned manner to occupy his property.
In his witness deposition before a Chittagong court, Nirmal also said: “Amin Chairman and his cadres attacked our house and torched it, leaving 11 family members including an infant burnt alive.”
Third Additional District and Sessions Judge Hla Mong, after recording the deposition, adjourned the case proceedings till March 2.
In his deposition, Nirmal described what he had listened from his elder brother Bimal Shil, the lone survivor of the attack. He said being informed by Bimal over phone around 3:30am, he reached his residence around 6am and found 11 of his family members burnt alive.
A group of miscreants on November 18, 2003 set the house of Tejendra Shil at Shilpara in Banshkhali of Chittagong on fire, killing 11 members of the family, including a child.
Tejendra’s son Bimal Shil filed a case the next day against 30-35 unidentified people on charges of murder, looting and arson attack.
Investigation Officer Hla Ching Pru on January 9, 2011 submitted a supplementary charge sheet against 39 people including Aminur, chairman of Kalipur union, also the president of Kalipur union BNP.
On September 12, 2011, the court framed charges against 38 accused including Amin Chairman.