High Court judges hearing Peelkhana trials ask govt for security

Three High Court judges presiding over the 2009 Peelkhana murder trials have asked the government to ensure their security.

The three-member bench headed by Justice Md Shawkat Hossain issued the order on Thursday, the 139th day of the hearing of the case.

Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique and Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder are the other members of the bench.

The bench directed the secretaries to the home and law ministries, inspector general of police and Dhaka City police commissioner to take measures within seven days of the receipt of the copy of the order.

“The court has ordered that security for the judges be heightened considering that the case has the highest number of convicts and also taking into account the current situation,” Deputy Attorney General KM Jahid Sarwar Kajol told bdnews24.com.

The bench is hearing the death references of 152 convicts.

Altogether 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the 2009 Peelkhana mutiny by members of the former Bangladesh Rifles.

A court sentenced 152 men to death, 161 to life imprisonment and 256 others to jail terms in the murder case on Nov 5, 2013.

Death references are forwarded to the High Court.

The convicts had moved the High Court challenging the verdicts while the prosecution challenged the acquittal of 69 accused.

The High Court began hearing the case on Jan 18.

Deputy Attorney General Kajol said the prosecution had presented arguments in regard to 139 death references so far.

He hoped the presentation will end on Sunday.