‘I am innocent,’ Limon tells court
The trial of one of the two cases against Limon Hossain, a college student who was shot and maimed by Rapid Action Battalion in 2011, began on
Monday after a special tribunal in Jhalakathi framed charges against him.
Additional speedy tribunal judge Kiron Sankar Halder framed charges against Limon, rejecting his prayer seeking discharge.
During the proceedings, the additional public prosecutor M Alam Khan read out the charge against him and asked whether he would plead guilty.
‘I am innocent,’ Limon told the court in reply.
The court set August 26 for recording the prosecution witnesses.
Soon after the indictment, Limon standing on dock and his mother Henoara Begum nearby started crying.
Limon, a resident of Jamaddarhat in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi, was shot at by the RAB personnel at a place near his house on March 23, 2011, trigging both local and international outcry by the rights defenders and citizens.
On the same day, RAB filed two cases with Rajapur Police Station implicating
Limon in an arms case and also accusing him of obstructing law enforcers from carrying out their duties.
Police submitted a charge sheet against him in the arms case on April 24, 2011.
Charge sheet in the second case was submitted on July 1, 2011.
A panel of defence counsels taking part in the hearing appealed the court to discharge him from the charge.
The hearing of appeal was lodged on July 3, 2011 by Henoara Begum, mother of Limon, for acquitting him from the charge in the case filed under arms act by Rapid Action Battalion.
In the hearing on Monday, the counsels told the court that Limon was the victim of RAB shooting and became senseless during the mentioned time and date of occurrence.
One of his counsels Nasir Uddin Kabir told the court that there was lack of element to frame the charge against Limon under the Section 220 of Code of Criminal Procedure.
The defence counsels said RAB had shot at Limon while he went to bring back cattle from nearby field.
Citing the First Information Report, the counsels argued that there was a gun battle of 15 minutes between ‘criminals’ and the RAB and 15 bullets were exchanged.
But the police produced only one blank cartridge as evidence, the defence argued.
Akkas Hossain Sikdar, one of his defence counsels, told New Age they would appeal before the High Court against the charge framing order.
When approached, Nur Khan, acting executive director of Ain O Salish Kendra, said they would provide necessary legal assistances to Limon if he wants.
Limon’s mother Henoara Begaum also filed case accusing six RAB personnel who took part in the drive for attempt to murder, and causing severe injury and maiming his son on April 10, 2011.
Police on August 14, 2012 filed final report.
Hearing of revision prayer against rejecting the petition was fixed on August 13 with a court in Jhalakathi.
-With New Age input
