DHAKA: A special court in Dhaka on Tuesday sentenced 204 jawans to different jail-term up to 17 years for their involvement in 2009 mutiny in border force.

While 271 were acquitted from the charge as their involvement was not proved.

Third Additional Metropolitan Session Judge Dr M Akhtaruzzaman passed the verdicts at the makeshift court set up at Bakshibazar Government Alia madrasa ground of Old Dhaka.

The court started reading out the judgment at 12:35pm.

Earlier in the morning, the 813 accused were taken to the makeshift court from Dhaka Central Jail.

Besides, the 10 more accused who are on bail also appeared before the court while three others accused who gat bail were not present.

Before reading out the verdict, Judge Dr M Akhtaruzzaman said that this in not the final sentence. Convicted can appeal against the sentences to the High Court.
Abdul Kahar Akhand, senior special superintendent of CID, submitted the charge sheet of the killings case on July 12, 2010 and in the case under the Explosives Act on July 27.

Among those standing trial are deputy assistant director (DAD) Tauhidul Alam, DAD Nasir, DAD Habib, DAD Jalil, BNP leader Nasir Uddin Pintu and local Awami League leader Torab Ali.

Originally, charge-sheet was submitted against 850 accused in the killing case. Of them, 21 are on the run while seven have died.

A total of 74 people, including 57 army officers in command of the border-security force, were killed in the bloody mutiny at Pilkhana on February 25-26, 2009. The mutiny had also triggered revolt in other garrisons across the country.

Lalbagh police station OC Nabajyoti Khisa filed the cases first with Lalbagh police station and then with New Market police station.

BDST: 1406 HRS, NOV 05, 2013
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