(Continued from yesterday)
Following are excerpts from incomplete cross-examination of Lance Naik (retd) Alnuddln Mollah. PW-20. by Khan Saifur Rahman, defence counsel for Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Faroqur Rahman:
Q: Col Jamil had a military S. Were you the driver of his lary Jeep or of his private car?
A: I was the driver of his official civil Jeep
0: You were to Join as driver for Narayanganj DC from August 16.
A: Yes.
0: Col Jamil had a driver from military.
A: No.
0: Col Jamil could drive
A: Yes.
0. Going to Ganobhaban. you communicated the order of Col Jamil to the forces of army and police and asked them to move for Bangabandhus residence with arms and ammunition within five minutes
A: Yes.
0: Did all the soldiers leave Ganobhaban?
A: The forces moved, but I can’t say whether all of them left Ganobhaban or not.
0: How far was the Sobhan-bagh mosque from the Dhan-mondi Boys' School?
A About 400 to 500 yards.
0: You did not see tne police force of Ganobhaban on your W3A: No.
0: Military truck was inside the school gate.
A: No. It was on the roadside in front of the school gate.
0: Was the Road-32 crossing seen from the Sobhanbagn mosque.
0: Did you see any army vehicle near Road-32.
A: Yes.
0: How far was the Road-32 crossing from Sobhanbagh mosque?
A: About 400 to 500 yards
0: Was Die vehicle you saw in front of Road-32 crossing from Ganobhaban?
A: No.
0: Was there any difference between the military truck of Ganobhaban and other military trucks
A: Yes. try signs.
0: Was your car halted by military.
A: No.
Q You were sent by Col Jamil to see who were those soldiers
A: Yes. to see the position.
Q: No force came out from Ganobhaban following the order.
A No they came out.
Q: Hie key was with the car and Col Jamil could leave that place easily if he wished.
A: Yes.
0: Musallis did not allow you to hide as you were in Rakkhi Bahini's uniform.
A: It Is not true.
0: The front shield and back glass of Col Jamil's car were Intact.
0. Yes.
0: Did you attend the namaj-e Janata of Col Jamil.
0. Was Mrs Jamil at home on August 15 day time?
A: Yes
0: Did you Inform the force at Ganobhaban of the incident.
A: 1 only went to Col Jamil's residence.
0: When was the namaj-e-JanaJa of Col Jamil held?
A: I don't know.
0: Col Jamil left home alone A: It is not true.
0: You neither drove the car nor was with Col Jamil in the car.
A: I drove the car.
0: You did not see anything in front of Sobhanbagn mosque.
A I saw.
0: You were so scared that you did not see anything.
A It Is not true.
0: There was Martial Law in the country after August 15
A I don't know.
Twenty-first
Prosecution Witness
Following are the excerpts from cross examination of PW-21 Lance Naik (retired) Abdul Khaleque by Advocate Gazi ZI1-lur Rahman. state defence for absconding accused Lt Col (dismissed) Khandaker Abdur Rashid:
0: At what time the night pa rade began at your parade ground on that day?
A: No parade was held at our ground on that day
0: How many of you Joined the parade?
A: I don't know. However, the required people of the four bat teries were taken with the guns. Besides this, approximately 40/50 of us. who were extra, were taken in road march.
0 Was any parade held for
you people after reaching there?
A: No parade was held for us the extra people, there was only discussion.
Q: You boarded trucks. How many trucks were there in total?
A: Approximately three to four.
0: Did the trucks start with the same mission and at the same time?
A: 1 was unaware of the mission. but started together.
0: How many personnel were in your truck?
A: 10/12 personnel.
0: Did the soldiers of your truck get down at road number 32?
A: No. only five to six of them were dropped at road no-32.
0: Did you know Major Noor. Huda. Aziz Pasha. Major Mohi-uddin (of Lancer). Rashed Chowdhury and Major Dalim from earlier?
A: No. I didn't know them.
0: What the officer whom you saluted in the morning was wearing?
A: Khaki dress.
0: Didn't you know him?
A: No. I didn t.
0: When did you enter the house of Bangabandhu?
A: At about 6 to 7 am.
S: How long have you stayed at house?
A: Three to four minutes.
Q: Where were you on duty till the evening'?
A: On the same road, where we first performed duty: not at Bangabandhu s house.
0: Have you performed any duty outside soon after the inci dent?
A: No. only performed duty at the unit.
0: How far from the airport was your unit located?
A: Approximately 6 to 7 miles away.
0: You did not see Major Rashid except when he Inspected the parade
A: No. I didn't see him.
0: Major Noor was not a regular officer of the Army at that time.
A: 1 can't say
Examination of Lance Naik (retd) Abdul Khaleque by Advo cate TM Akbar, defence counsel for accused Lt Col (LPR) Muhi-uddin:
0: What were the trades in regiment?
A: Clerk. TA. Surveyor. OCU. Driver. Gunner. Cook. NCE (sweeper), etc.
Q: Which trade you were in?
A: I was a driver, but being a fresh recruit no vehicle was issued till then in my name.
0: When did you start towards the airport?
A: After the Magreb prayer, approximately around 6 to 7 pm.
Q: Of which battery was Captain Mostafa?
A: He was in Headquarters Battery and also the Captain Quarter Master of our regiment.
Q: When did you come to this battery?
A: I come to Papa Battery in the first part of 1974
Q: Have you ever come outside the cantonment before August 14 (of 1975)?
A Yes. I came outside with outpass to watch movies at Ananda cinema hall and also went to Gulistan to buy clothes.
Q: Where did you reside then?
A; At our unit barrack in Kachukhet area inside the Cantonment.
Q: Which away you came from the airport?
A: I could not see as the truck was covered with tarpaulin. But I saw the 3rd gate (of the can tonment) on the right hand side.
Q: How long it took to reach the place of your arrival after starting from the new airport?
A: More than 10 to 15 minutes.
Q: When did you meet Lt Hasan for the last time?
A: I don't remember.
Q: Where you a batman of Muhiuddin saneb?
A: Yes. for few days.
0- Have you suffered punishment for any major or minor faults during your service life?
A: No.
0: It's a lie that you heard the eaiuion fire on August 15.
A: I heard the sound, you statement is not true.
Q: During the service life, you misbehaved with Muhiuddin and he gave you punish ment. For this reason, you gave false statement against him.
A: Not true.
0: You are an arranged wit ness.
A: Not true.
— UNB
Further texts of cross examination will be published as and when received.