Tangail: A court in Tangail on Tuesday convicted 16 militants including the chief of Islamist outfit 'Allahar Dal' and sentenced them to three years in jail in a case filed under the Special Powers Act, reports UNB.

The convicts are Matin Mehedi alias Mahbub Matin, chief of 'Allahar Dal', Shah Mohammad Ferdous, Abu Sayed and Fazal of Palashbari upazila in Gaibandha, Alam of Rangpur, and Rafiqul Islam, Abdul Aziz, Bulbul, Delwar, Liton, Chandu, Abdul Khalek, Main, Alal Uddin, Madan and Munna of Tangail.

The court also fined them Tk 5,000 each, in default, to suffer three months more in rigorous imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, police arrested the 16 suspected militants and found some militancy supporting books in their possession while they were holding a clandestine meeting at a house in East Court Para in Tangail district town on 14 April 2007.

Mosharraf Hossain, sub-inspector of Sadar Police Station filed a case against them under Special Powers Act.

After examining records and witnesses, Judge of Tangail Additional District and Session Judge court-1 Abul Mansur Mia handed down the verdict.