PW accuses Jabbar of forcibly converting 200 Hindus in \\\'71

A prosecution witness (PW) accused on Thursday Engineer A Jabbar of pulling the strings in carrying out loot and arson attack on over 150 houses in Kulupara and Nathpara villages of Mathbaria, Pirojpur by Razakar militia, an auxiliary force of the occupation army, during the Liberation War in 1971, reports UNB.
Hailing from Kulupara, Bimal Chandra Bepari, came up with the allegation while testifying against Jabbar, then Pakistan Muslim League leader, before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 as PW-10.
The frightful incident had taken place on May 16, 1971, recalled the PW, saying that the perpetrators had looted 72 bundles of corrugated iron sheets along with money and ornaments from their houses, comprising seven families, before they carried out arson attack.
"I had witnessed the horrendous scene, hiding in a nearby bush," Bimal said.
A week after the occurrences, he said, the Razakars led by its commander Iskander Ali Mridha at the behest of accused Jabbar had converted over 200 members of Hindu families living in Kulupara and Nathpara villages to Muslim under duress.
Corroborating the evidence of other PWs, Bimal said that during the Liberation War, Engineer Jabbar had appeared as chairman of the Mathbaria Peace Committee (collaborator) and formed Razakar militia, with his close relation Iskander Ali Mridha as its commander.
He told the tribunal that after the liberation of Bangladesh, Engineer Jabbar became known in the locality as 'Killer Jabbar' for his divisive role in 1971.
The deposition over, the PW was cross-examined by state defence counsel MA Hasan.
Replying to state defence questions, Bimal, father of three daughters, said that he was a student of class X in Tushkhali High School in 1971. "I'm not involved in any political party."
Denying state defence suggestions, the PW said it was not a fact that on May 17 in 1971 the awful operation had taken place following a skirmish between the Razakar militia and the freedom fighters.
Bimal also said after the liberation of Bangladesh, neither he nor any member of his family filed any case with the local police station about the damage to their houses.