A prosecution witness yesterday narrated how Razakars picked up and tortured her paternal cousin on the command of war crimes accused Abdus Subhan at Ramnathpur in Pabna in late October of 1971.

The 10th prosecution witness, Sanwara Kha tun, 5 6, told the International Crimes Tribunal-2 that her cousin Osman was killed, and they were yet to get the body.

Sanwara said that on Kartik 12 (Bangla calendar) at about 7:00am, Subhan along with one Khudu Kha and local Razakars attacked Betbari village of Pabna and looted, torched the houses of Shafiuddin, Sadek and others.

Later, they went to Ramnathpur village and cordoned Sanwara's parental houses and caught her cousin Osman.

"You gave shelter to freedom fighters, entertained them with food and helped them. Now |I| will let you know the consequence of giving shelter," she said, quoting Subhan as saying to her cousin.

The witness said, "On Subhan Moulana's direction, Razakars and Biharis began torturing him |Osman] indiscriminately. He was tied to a mango tree of our house, his hands tied behind his back."

Meanwhile, Subhan directed his fellows to loot and set fire to their house, she said.

"The looted goods were kept in a big car. They also got my cousin with three others of Betbaria-Bhadu, Shafi and Boyna-into that car," she said, adding they were taken to Muladuli village of Pabna.

The detainees were kept in a Razakar

camp set up next to one Ishaq Razakar's house.

S a n w a r a' s family members requested Ishaq to set Osman free but he did not. The four detainees were later taken to Ishwardi Dak Bungalow.

"My uncle and relatives learnt from locals that the detainees were killed after torture at the bungalow on the direction of Subhan Moulana," she said. "We are yet to find his body."

The witness said she saw Subhan first during the 1970 election when he led the campaign for Khudu Kha in Pabna.

Defence counsel Mizanul Islam cross-examined the witness. When Mizanul suggested that she was only five during the liberation war, the witness denied it.

The proceeding against Subhan, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, was adjourned until Sunday.