99 mutineers in Satkhira jailed

 99 mutineers in Satkhira jailed

Ninety-nine jawans of 41 Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were yesterday sentenced to different jail terms ranging from four months to seven years for their involvement in the 2009 mutiny in Satkhira.

The Special Court-1 headed by Rajshahi BGB Sector Commander Lt Col Yahiya Azam Khan also fined each of the convicts Tk 100.

The court, however, acquitted six other accused in the case as allegations brought against them were not proved.

Thirteen of the convicts were jailed for seven years, two for five years, seven for four years, two for three years and six months, five for three years, four for two years and six months, 12 for two years, four for one year and six months, 18 for one year, 16 for six months, 14 for four months, and one was jailed for four years and six months while another for six years.

The court started delivering the verdict at about 10:00am, which continued for one and a half hours.

The convicts were charged with looting firearms and ammunition from the armoury, bringing out a procession, chanting slogans in favour of the mutineers of BGB headquarters.

As many as 47 prosecution witnesses gave their statements before the court.

Of the accused, 25 confessed to their involvement in the mutiny and begged for mercy while the remaining 80 claimed themselves innocent.