Two new prosecution witnesses (PWs) on Wednesday testified against the Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali, who is facing the charges of crimes against humanity, at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2.
Mridul Kumar Dey and Pradip Talukder submitted their depositions as the PW-6 and 7 respectively. Both of them were the residents of Hazari Lane, an area near of notorious Dalim Hotel. Mridul in his deposition mentioned the abduction and killing of Ranjit Das and Tuntu Sen in the hands of Al-Badr cadres. “After the day of their abduction, we got to know that Al-Badr cadres led by Mir Quasem abducted them and taken them to their camp in Dalim Hotel,” he said.
“On December 16, 1971, we got to know that Ranjit and Tuntu have been killed by the accomplices of Mir Quasem,” Mridul added. Prodip, nephew of martyred Tuntu, in his deposition described how the Al-Badr men abducted his uncle and killed him afterwards.
After their depositions, both the PWs were cross-examined by Advocate Mizanul Islam, counsel for Quasem. The ICT-2 then adjourned the hearing till February 23.
The ICT-1 on August 29, 2013, framed a total of fourteen charges of crimes against humanity against Mir Quasem. Later, the trial was shifted from ICT-1 to ICT-2 for quick disposal. Mir Qasem was arrested on June 17, 2012 from daily Naya Diganta office in the city’s Motijheel area and is now kept at Kashimpur High Security Jail.
