GAURIPUR, MYMENSINGH, Jan 9: Fifty-four years after the Liberation War, the victims of the 1971 Shaaliher massacre in Gauripur Upazila of the district are yet to be officially recognised as martyrs.
According to local accounts, on August 21, 1971, Pakistani occupation forces, aided by local collaborators, arrived by train near Bishka Railway Station in Gauripur. The troops then launched a brutal raid on Shaaliher Village in search of freedom fighters, looting and setting fire to several homes, including those of freedom fighters Ashutosh Roy and Abul Hasim.
During the attack, the soldiers abducted Abul Hasim's father, businessman Shabed Hossain Bepari. Earlier, on May 16, they had picked up local athlete Madhusudan Dhar. Both men remain missing since then. On that fateful day, the Pakistani troops also rounded up 14 innocent villagers and executed them at various spots through indiscriminate firing.
The victims were identified as Mohini Mohon Kar, Gyanendra Mohon Kar, Jogesh Chandra Biswas, Nobor Ali, Kirdha Sundari, Shachindra Chandra Biswas, Tarini Kanta Biswas, Khailash Chandra Nom Das, Shokrogno Nom Das, Ramendra Chandra Sarkar, Aboni Mohon Sarkar, Debendra Chandra Nom Das, Kamini Kanta Biswas, and Roy Choron Biswas.
A memorial monument has been built at the Shaaliher Kadamtali killing ground in their memory. However, despite repeated demands from locals, the victims have not yet been recognised by the government as Liberation War martyrs.
