‘OC ordered constables to fire at us’

A former Islami Chhatra Shibir leader yesterday told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that police shot him and another activist in the legs after arresting them in Jashore in 2016.

Israfil Hossain recounted the harrowing events of August 4, 2016, when he and his friend Ruhul Amin -- then Shibir leaders -- were allegedly taken to a deserted road near Bandalitola playground in Chowgachha by police.

Members of Chowgachha Police Station picked them up a day earlier, he alleged.

Israfil said he and Ruhul -- both blindfolded and handcuffed -- were forced out of the vehicles and made to stand on the deserted road.

“Moshiur, the then officer-in-charge of Chowgachha, then told two constables to fire,” Israfil told the tribunal.

He said Ruhul was shot first. Moments later, he was struck on the knee with the butt of a firearm. “Then there was a deafening sound, and I was shot in the knee,” said Israfil.

Now working as a public relations officer at Ibn Sina Hospital in Jashore, Israfil appeared before the tribunal on crutches. The tribunal allowed him to sit during his testimony.

He told the court that after the shooting, police rubbed dust into their wounds. The injury later became severely infected, forcing doctors to amputate his left leg above the knee.

Israfil said they were first taken to Chowgachha Upazila Health Complex and later to Jashore Sadar Hospital. He alleged that they remained there for two days without proper treatment before being transferred to Pangu Hospital in Dhaka, where he was amputated.

Eight former police officials have been accused in the case, including former Jashore superintendent of police Anisur Rahman, former Chowgachha Police Station OC Mashiur Rahman, former SIs Mokhles and Akikul Islam, ASIs Sirajul and Majedul, and constables Sajjadur Rahman and Zahurul Haque. Three accused are in custody, while the others remain absconding.

Israfil told the tribunal that he was then the secretary of the Chowgachha upazila unit of Shibir and was involved in anti-government political activities.

He alleged that after the Awami League came to power in 2009, opposition activists were routinely subjected to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and shootings intended to leave them permanently disabled.

He said he and Ruhul were picked up on August 3, 2016, while returning on a motorcycle and were taken to Chowgachha Police Station, where they were tortured for hours.

According to his testimony, police beat them and demanded information about opposition activists, threatening to kill them.

The following day, after they were taken to the Detective Branch office in Jashore, a DB member allegedly told them they would be killed in a “crossfire” that night.

Israfil said he and Ruhul remained in police custody for about one and a half months before being sent to jail in two Arms Act cases. They were later released on bail after 33 days in jail.

Israfil urged the tribunal to punish those responsible for the shooting.