A new prosecution witness yesterday said war crimes accused Abdul Jabbar from Mothbaria of Pirojpur had been known as “Khuni Jabbar” and “Ghorpora Jabbar” in the area for his brutal role during the 1971 Liberation War.
Tenth witness Bimol Chandra Bepari, then student of Tushkhali High School, told the International Crimes Tribunal 1 that he had known the accused since the latter’s house was at village Khetachhira of Mothbaria.
Jabbar later became chairman of the Peace Committee unit of Mothbaria.
Farmer Bimol, 60, said during a meeting at Tushkhali High School ground on May 16, 1971, Jabbar had formed razakar group and made relative Iskander Mridha his deputy.
The accused also asked his accomplices to loot the houses of Hindus, and kill the activists of Awami League and the freedom fighters.
On that day, the razakars attacked Kulapara village, and torched and looted at least 100 houses. The witness said the collaborators had also looted 72 bundles of tin sheets from their house, for which, Jabbar was renowned as “Ghorpora Jabbar.”
Bimol said after around 10 days, Jabbar had ordered razakars to convert 200 Hindus of Paik Bari of Phuljhuri village into Islam. After that, they made a mosque at Paik Bari and forced the women to marry Muslim men.
After his deposition, state-appointed defence counsel MA Hasan cross examined the witness.
The prosecution then placed the 11th witness, Abdus Sattar Sharif, brother of martyr Motaleb Sharif, before the tribunal. Sharif gave deposition on his brother’s killing that had taken place on May 16 in Phuljhuri.
Later the tribunal adjourned the trial until October 15.
Earlier, the victim’s wife and another brother testified at the court as prosecution witnesses.
Former Jatiya party lawmaker Jabbar is facing five charges of crimes against humanity he had committed during the war in Pirojpur. He was indicted on August 14.
