The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Sunday took cognisance of formal charges against former Jessore superintendent of police (SP) Anisur Rahman and eight others in a crimes against humanity case over the shooting of two Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders in a staged gunfight in Chaugachha, Jessore.
The tribunal also issued arrest warrants against five of the accused and ordered three others to appear before it on February 16.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order after hearing a prosecution application.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam represented the prosecution, assisted by Prosecutors Gazi MH Tamim, Mizanul Islam, Tarek Abdullah and others.
Briefing reporters later, the chief prosecutor said police arrested two student leaders — Ruhul Amin and Israfil — on August 3, 2016, in Chaugachha in a false case. He alleged that they were tortured for two consecutive nights without being produced before a court.
According to the prosecution, the then SP Anisur Rahman later ordered subordinate police officers to shoot the two detainees in their legs. Sand was allegedly inserted into their wounds and a false arms case was filed against them by tying towels around their injuries. The weapons case was later proven to be false, the prosecutor said.
He added that severe infection set in due to the sand inserted into the wounds, eventually leading to the amputation of both victims’ legs.
The tribunal took cognisance of charges against eight accused, including former SP Anisur Rahman, in what the prosecution described as a “brutal incident.”
Three accused — then sub-inspector (SI) Akiqul Islam of Chaugachha Police Station, Constable Sajjadur Rahman and Constable Zahrul Haque — have already been arrested. The prosecution said they opened fire directly on the instructions of senior officials.
Apart from Anisur Rahman, arrest warrants have been issued against former Chaugachha police station officer-in-charge Mashiur Rahman, SI Mokhles, SI Jamal and SI Majedul.
