‘I revealed the truth out of conscience’: Cop exposes ‘staged gunfight'

A police officer has testified in a crimes against humanity case that two Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders were shot after their arrest in Chaugachha, Jashore, in a staged “gunfight” back in 2016.

The then assistant sub-inspector (ASI) also testified that he was falsely shown as injured in fabricated cases despite being at home when the shooting took place.

The testimony was recorded Tuesday (September 1) before International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumder.

Eight people, including Jashore’s then superintendent of police (SP) Anisur Rahman, have been accused in the case. Three are in custody and five remain absconding.

The 51-year-old witness, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, said police detained Israfil and Ruhul Amin on August 3, 2016, after finding Islami Chhatra Shibir donation receipts and a register in their possession.

He said the two were taken to the police station following instructions from the then OC Mashiur Rahman and kept in the duty officer’s room.

The witness said he returned home that evening and, finding his name absent from the duty roster the following morning, stayed there.

When he returned to the station on August 5, he learned that the two detainees had been taken to Bandulitola on August 4 and shot in the legs at close range by Constables Sajjadur Rahman and Jaharul Haque.

He alleged that SI Mokhles then filed two fabricated cases to cover up the incident.

The witness testified: “In those false cases, I was shown as an injured accompanying officer, and it was claimed that I received treatment at the Chaugachha Upazila Health Complex. But I was never injured and was at home at the time of the incident.”

“When I asked SI Mokhles about this, he told me to remain silent and said that SP Anisur Rahman and OC Mashiur Rahman knew everything about it,” he added.

He also said SI Jamal later included his name as a witness in the charge sheet without questioning him.

Towards the end of his testimony, the officer said: “While serving at Chaugachha Police Station, I came to know that nearly 50 young men in Jashore district had been crippled because of their political opposition to the government at the time.”

“The then Awami League government used police personnel like us and senior officers to carry out these brutalities against people with differing political views,” he said.

“Out of conscience, I have revealed the truth before the tribunal today. I want exemplary punishment for those responsible so that no one in the future can use the police force as a political tool to commit such horrific acts.”

Defence lawyer Manzur Alam later cross-examined the witness. Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Abdus Sattar Palowan represented the prosecution.