Live bombs as physical evidence in court scare judge, lawyers

Dhaka, Aug 2 (UNI) Bombs that were being used as physical evidence in a case against five JMB militant cadres were found to be live in a city court here today.

It could cause havoc but luckily the bombs did not burst in the court of metropolitan additional sessions judge which was packed with about 50 people.

Captain Tareq Rahman Khan of Rapid Action Batallion (RAB) recognised that the bombs in the hands of the public prosecutor were live and powerful enough to blow up the building.

As he sounded the alert, judge Rabiul Hasan hastily left the court and others rushed out.

It happened during the hearing of the case against five JMB militant cadres filed by Uttara police station in Dhaka. Captain Tareq appreaed in the court as a prosecution witness.

Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) Rafiqul Islam showing four bombs asked the witness to identify if they had seized these bombs from the JMB cadres.

Captain Tareq was horrified and alerted the court that those were live bombs and may burst any moment causing massacre.

Stricken by panic all hastily deserted the court.

Soon RAB and police came and took away the bombs under safety measures.

Earlier, the bombs ''physical evidence of the prosecution'' were brought from the Uttara Police Station. The APP said prosecution evidences should be kept in treasury. He wondered why the bombs were kept in the police station.

UNI XC SHB GC2158