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Up to 70 Hindus killed in one day

7th prosecution witness testifies against SQ Chy

Staff Correspondent
A witness to the genocide committed during the Liberation War in his description of wartime brutality yesterday said he had seen bodies of two pregnant women with their half-born babies.
Abbas Uddin Ahmed, seventh prosecu-
tion witness in a case against BNP lawmaker and war crimes accused Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 how brutally the Pakistani occupation force unleashed terror on the Hindus of Unsotturpara village in 1971.
FROM PAGE 20
About 60-70 Hindus of Unsotturpara in Rauzan in Chittagong were killed in a raid by Pakistani army on April 14, 1971, Abbas said, adding, he lost his friend in that attack.
The witness said he had heard from locals that such killings were also committed in Kundeshwari and Jagot Mollo Para and Salahuddin Quader was involved, but he did not see the BNP leader at that time.
Abbas, 62, chairman of East Gujra Union Parishad of Rauzan, used to live with his family at Unsotturpara village during the War. The majority of people of that village were Hindus in 1971.
Residents of Unsotturpara irrespective of age and race took part in the Liberation War, Abbas said, adding, he used to supply kedgeree for the freedom fighters in Chittagong.
Locals had set up a check post putting barricade on the road for checking vehicles in Unsotturpara, he added.
Abbas said the erstwhile Muslim League's chief
Fazlul Quader Chowdhury became furious over the check post while crossing the village in a Volkswagen car as he and his three sons including Salahuddin Quader and Giasuddin Quader had to get down.
"In the evening that day [April 11, 1971], Punjabis patrolled the engineering college area. That's why many people left the place in fear," said Abbas.
The next day, the then chairman of Pahartali union Mofdul Hossain asked Niranjan Dutta Gupta, who had good family relations with Abbas, to call back the Hindus, the witness continued.
Assured of no harm, Niranjan had called back the Hindus, Abbas added.
"On April 13, 1971 at about 4:00pm, Mofdul, Piaru and Burma Yousuf asked the villagers to gather at Hitoishi Mohajon's house.
"Our leader will talk with you," Abbas quoted one of the three as saying. They however did not mention the name of the leader, he added.
"My friend Babul Mali rushed to my house. I Ie told
me that Punjabis came and asked them to gather at Hitoishi Mohajon's house. All Hindus of the village were going there," said the witness.
Abbas and Babul went to Unsotturpara School and saw Pakistani army going from north to south in a couple of cars. There were two civilians in the cars, but the witness could not identify them.
Abbas and Babul then decided to move to their respective houses.
"As I moved 200 yards further, I heard a loud bang. I looked back and saw Babul falling on the ground. A few moments later I heard the sound of rapid fire from the south," he said.
The next day Abbas learned that Niranjan had committed suicide as he could not bear the remorse that the Hindus, who were killed the previous day, had returned home at his request.
On April 15, Abbas along with some of his friends went to Unsotturpara.
Abbas said, "At first I saw the body of my friend Babul
and his father in a stream. I went to the house of Flitoishi Mohajan where I saw 60-70 bodies."
He said he buried the bodies with the help of some locals in a burrow.
As his deposition was made, the tribunal asked the defence to cross-examine the witness.
Defence counsel Ahsanul Huq Hena completed his cross-examination by asking two questions.
Ahsanul Huq asked him if it was true that Fazlul Quader and his sons did not go to Unsotturpara.
That is not true, replied Abbas.
"Is it not true that you did not hear people saying that Salahuddin Quader was involved in the killing?" asked Ahsanul.
Abbas again said that it is not true.
Salahuddin Quader, who is facing 23 specific charges of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, was present at the tribunal.
The proceeding of the case was adjourned until July 23.
Earlier, the prosecution
read out the opening statement in another war crimes case against Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami at the tribunal.
Prosecutors Golam Arif Tipu and Altaf Uddin Ahmed read out the statement.
In the statement, Altaf said Nizami who was chief of Al-Badr, incited people to join the anti-liberation force by holding rallies during the War.
Following completion of the opening statement, the tribunal fixed July 22 for recording deposition of witnesses against Nizami.
The Jamaat leader was also present at the dock of the tribunal.
On May 28, the tribunal framed 16 charges against Nizami for his alleged involvement in murders and torture of unarmed people during the War.
Correction
In our yesterday’s report headlined “Thousands killed in Chupnagar", we had inadvertently mentioned 'Chupnagar'. Actually, it would be 'Chuknagar'. We stand corrected.