Suryamani massacre

Suryamani massacre (Bengali: সূর্যমণি হত্যাকান্ড) took place on the early hours of 7 October 1971 in Suryamani village of the then Barisal district. The Razakars shot dead 24 Bengali Hindus.

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Violence against Hindus
in East Pakistan
and Bangladesh
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Incidents after 1947 - East Pakistan
Incidents in 1971
Incidents after 1971 - Bangladesh
Suryamani massacre
সূর্যমণি হত্যাকান্ড
LocationSuryamani, Barisal, East Pakistan
Date7 October 1971 (UTC+6:00)
TargetBengali Hindus
Attack type
Massacre
WeaponsRifles
Deaths24
PerpetratorsRazakars

Background

The village of Suryamani was located in Pirojpur sub-division of erstwhile Barisal district, now under Mathbaria Upazila of Pirojpur District. The village is two and a half kilometres to the east of Mathbaria Upazila headquarters. Towards the south of the village is a WAPDA embankment.

Killings

On the night of 6 October, a group of 60-65 armed Razakars raided the houses of Haldar and Mitra families in the village of Angulkata now under Sadar Union of Mathbaria Upazila.[1] The Razakars were led by Commander Iskander Ali Mridha, Mukul Ahmed Badshah, Ansar Ali Khalifa and Syed Howladar. They broke open the doors and tied up the men, women and children. After that they raped the women, and took 37 men captive, tied with ropes. The men were taken to Mathbaria police station. Seven of them were released for a huge ransom. They rest 30 were taken to the WAPDA embankment to the south of Suryamani village. They were made to stand in a line and shot by the Razakars. 24 Bengali Hindus died on the spot. Six of them escaped miraculously after surviving bullet wounds.[1]

Investigation

On 8 October 2010, survivor Jnanendra Mitra filed a lawsuit with the Court of Senior Assistant Judge at Mathbaria, against eight persons accusing them of the killings.[2] The lawsuit accused Abdur Jabbar Engineer (Vice Chairman of Jatiya Party and former M.P. from Pirojpur-3 constituency), Iskander Ali Mridha (Charmain of Tikikata Union and leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party), Mukul Ahmed Badshah (Industrialist and Jatiya Party leader), Mohammad Ansar Ali Khalifa (Jamaat-e-Islami leader), Mohammad Habib Mian Howladar, Ruhul Amin and Mohammad Alam Mridha of the war crimes.[3] The judge directed the Officer in Charge of Mathbaria police station to lodge an FIR and investigate into the matter. When the police asked for further directive from the court, the judge referred the case to the International Crimes Tribunal.[3] The International Crimes Tribunal have visited the place twice for investigation. The tribunal has so far collected the testimony of 18 witnesses.[4]

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References
  1. Faisal, A.K.M. (7 October 2012). "মঠবাড়িয়ায় সূর্যমণি গণহত্যা". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Dhaka. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  2. "মঠবাড়িয়ার সূর্যমণি গণহত্যা দিবস আজ". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). Dhaka. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  3. "মঠবাড়িয়ার সূর্যমণি গণহত্যা মামলা ট্রাইব্যুনালে যাচ্ছে". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). Dhaka. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  4. "কুমিল্লা ও মঠবাড়িয়ায় তদন্ত দলের আরও বধ্যভূমি পরিদর্শন". The Daily Janakantha (in Bengali). Dhaka. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2013.

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