The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Two trial courts in Barisal on Wednesday afternoon announcing verdicts in two separate cases sentenced one accused to life imprisonment for drug peddling and seven accused to five years rigorous imprisonments for toll collection.

Court sources said Md. Shahidullah district and session judge of Barisal sentenced accused Khalilur Rahman to life imprisonment and acquitted other two accused Rafikul Islam and Kamrul Islam in a case of drug peddling.

Those three accused were travelling on a night coach of G M Paribahon plying on Benapole-Barisal route and arrested with 40 grams heroin worth Tk. 4 lakhs in a check post at Torki under Gournadi police station of Barisal district on Barisal-Faridpur highway on September 2, 2007 late night.

Sub Inspector Delwar Hossain investigating the case filed charge sheet against three accused on September 30, 2007 and the court handed down the verdict in presence of the all of three accused after examining eight witnesses.

In another case Siddikul Arefin Chowdhury, first additional district and session judge of Barisal, sentenced each of the seven absconding accused Angur Khan,Awal Khan, Altaf Khan, Abdus Salam, Zahangir Hossain, Abdul Halim Talukdar and Ali Hossain, to five years rigorous imprisonment with per head Tk. 1000 fine or to suffer more one year RI in default.

Prosecution story in brief was the accused demanded Tk.one lakh as toll from Zamila Khatun of Madarkati village under Banaripara upazila of Barisal district and when Zamila refused to pay the toll the miscreants attacking his house looted Tk.38 thousand on February 24, 1998 night.

Golam Mustafa Dulal, son of Zamila, lodged a case in this connection with Banaripara police station on next day and Sub Inspector Yusuf Ali, filed charge against those seven accused on August 31, 1998.

The court announced the verdict after examining 11 witnesses in absentia of the absconding accused.