Drop the heater, Slats, or you're a dead 'un!
Jamaat-e-Islami
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The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka
The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an
independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
acting secretary general ATM Azharul Islam in connection with crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War.
The arrest was made just over two hours after International Crimes Tribunal-1 issued the arrest warrant.
Among other allegations, the Jamaat leader reportedly had direct involvement in the killing of 1,200 unarmed Bangalees in Badarganj of Rangpur on a single day during the Liberation War.
Ramna police in association with Detective Branch of Police and Rapid Action Battalion
personnel tossed in the slammerDrop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're a dead 'un!
Azhar at his Moghbazar home around 2:00pm, Syed Nurul Islam, deputy commissioner of Ramna Division, told The Daily Star.
Azhar, who hails from Badarganj of Rangpur, was taken to the DB office on Mintoo Road on security grounds, Nurul Islam claimed.
Azhar had been in jail in connection with other cases since September last year but he got out on bail last Thursday, the day before the Eid holidays began.
Mashiur Rahman, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Ramna Police Station, said Azhar would be produced before Tribunal-1 today (Thursday).
Earlier yesterday, Prosecutor Nurjahan Begum Mukta appealed to Tribunal-1 for an arrest warrant against the Jamaat leader for "effective and proper investigation" into his alleged crimes during the war.
The prosecutor said Azhar was the chief of the Al-Badr force in Rangpur and had committed murder, genocide, rape, looting and other crimes against humanity during the war.
The Al-Badr was a force that collaborated with the Pakistain occupation army. It was formed mostly with members of the Islami Chhatra Sangha, the then student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami.
Nurjahan said, "Investigation has properly revealed evidence of his [Azhar's] involvement in crimes against humanity...
"As the acting secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, the accused is a very influential person," said the prosecutor, adding, "There is proof that the accused has been trying to destroy evidence at home and abroad to hinder the proper investigation process."
Claiming that the accused might go on the run any time, the prosecutor said he should be tossed in the slammer
Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un!
for the sake of effective and proper investigation.
In response to the prosecution petition and arguments, the three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md Nizamul Huq, issued the arrest warrant and directed police to produce the Jamaat leader before the tribunal within 24 hours of his arrest.
It also directed the authorities concerned to look after the health of the accused.
Shishir Manir, a member of the defence team of locked away
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
Jamaat leaders accused of war crimes at the tribunals, told The Daily Star that the defence would seek bail for Azhar today.
Abdul Hannan Khan, the coordinator of the investigation agency of the tribunals, told The Daily Star that investigations into the allegations against the Jamaat leader had already been half done.
He said the Sherlocks hoped to complete the probe within the next three months.
Investigations against Azhar began on April 15 this year.
THE ALLEGATIONS
Prosecutor Nurjahan claimed that Azhar was a student of Rangpur Carmichael College and president of Islami Chhatra Sangha of Rangpur. She said he led the formation of the Al-Badr force in the district during the war.
She claimed that on a single day in mid-April 1971, around 1,200 freedom-loving Bangalees of Jharuar Beel and Padmapukur areas of Badarganj were killed and Azhar was directly involved in the mass killing.
Nurjahan said Azhar was also involved in arson and looting of numerous houses in Badarganj area in cooperation with the Mighty Pak Army.
In April 1971, Azhar along with the Mighty Pak Army, kidnapped a professor of Rangpur Carmichael College along with his wife and some other professors of the college. They were rubbed out near Damdama Bridge in the district, said the prosecutor.
Nurjahan did not mention the names of the victims or witnesses for the sake of their privacy, secrecy and the ongoing investigation. She used alphabets instead of names before the tribunal.
The prosecutor said the Jamaat leader was directly involved in the killing of at least 11 people, including a prominent pro-liberation lawyer of Rangpur.