A former Rajakar was sentenced to death by the court of International Crimes Tribunal for committing crimes against humanity during Liberation War in 1971 in Rajshahi on Tuesday.
The convict was identified as Abdus Samad Musa alias Firoz Kha, 62, a Rajakar who was known as Musa Rajakar in the area, was involved in killing of 15 people, abduction and torture of 21 people and looting of 10 houses and arsoning of 21 houses in Puthia and Durgapur Upazilas of the district during 1971.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam pronounced the verdict against Musa, who was arrested on January 24, 2017.
According to investigators, Musa was involved with Muslim League before the war but joined Jamaat and subsequently the Rajakar Bahini during the War of Liberation in 1971.
However, Musa went into hiding after the war but resurfaced in the village after the political changeover in 1975, they said.
Musa tried to hide his original age and even gave false information about the ages of his children in a bid to evade war crimes allegations, they added.
The tribunal on September 9 last year indicted on him and the prosecution produced 15 witnesses, including the investigation officer, to prove the charges.
On July 8, the tribunal kept the verdict waiting after both the prosecution and defence counsel completed their closing arguments.
According to sources, on 19 April 1971 Musa along with his cohorts and Pakistani army slaughtered and shoot 15 aboriginal residents including Lade Hemrom, Kanu Hasda, Tunu Maddi and Jotu Soren of village Paschim Bhag Santalpara of Bhalukgacchi union of Puthia.
On April 12, 2018, charge was submitted against Musa under the ICT Act and on 20 April the charge was accepted and after hearing of the case, ICT directed to frame charge
