6 Aug 2012: Molla 6th witness cross exam, day 2

As the was the date fixed for three cases and the room of Tribunal-2 was very small, the room became over crowded. Defense counsel (Munsi Ahsan Kabir) drew the attention of Tribunal saying that the accommodation of the room given for defense counsels is very insufficient. There is no room for journalists. Besides, there is no hygienic toilet both for defense counsels and journalists.

The cross examination of the sixth witness, Sofiuddin Molla in the case against Quader Mollah continued from the previous day.

Defence: When was the Azan of Fazr called or the sun rise on 24/4/1971?

Witness: I can’t say the time.

Defence: Whether that was a dark night or moonlight night?

Witness: The sky of that night was cloudy.

Defence: Where did the people who started to run scatter after the landing of helicopter?

Witness: The people of the village run scattered within the village.

Defence: Can you tell the approximate number of residents of your village on 24/4/1971?

Witness: Most probably 2,500 to 3,000 people.

Defence: When did the sky become clear?

Witness: When the east side became clear.

Defence: The sky of that night was cloudy and from the hole, you did not see anything.

Witness: This is not true. In front of the hole there was open space and the rice field was below 3 or 4 steps, in a low land.

Defence: You were not in the hole or within the bush during the incidents of 24/4/1971.

Witness: This is not true.

Defence: Where did you go after 11 am at that day?

Witness: As I got chance, I went out of the village across the paddy field after 11 am.

Defence: Was there anyone in your village after 11 am at that day?

Witness: There were some villagers, the Pakistani armies and their assistants.

Defence: Did you go to your home after 11 am at that day?

Witness: No.

Defence: Did you not take the information of your family members?

Witness: My father, mother, brother and sisters went out from the village previously.

Defence: How many days before 24/4/1971, they went out from the village?

Witness: Mother, brother and sisters went out about one week previously and father went out at evening of the previous day of occurrence.

Defence: How many days before 24/4/1971, the other members of your family went out from the village?

Witness: The female and children of my uncle’s family went out about one week to ten days before the day of occurrence.

Defence: What about the other residents of your village?

Witness: Many left about one week to ten days before the day of occurrence any many went out also before that.

Defence: Why did they leave the village?

Witness: After the incidence of 25th March, many people started to leave the village as they were scared.

Defence: Along with your father, mother, brother and sisters, you also went out from the village one week to ten days before the day of occurrence.

Witness: This is not true.

Defence: How many times did you meet the Investigation officer of this case?

Witness: Before and after 16 August, 2011, I never met the Investigation officer again.

Defence: Did you further see the Investigation officer in your village?

Witness: No.

Defence: Accused Quader Mollah didn’t go to your village at or near 24/4/1971.

Witness: This is not true.

Defence: On which side and how distant of your village were Birunia and Sadullapur village?

Witness: On western side. The angel of the village Birunia is to some extent on north side. The distance was more than 2 km.

Defence: As the time of the occurrence was dark, you didn’t see anything.

Witness: This is not true. Though the time of start of the occurrence was dark, but gradually it became clear.

Defence: As the number of accused is one, so you’ve identified him at dock as you were learnt.

Witness: This is not true.

Defence: You do politics, and for the political reason you’ve given this witness.

Witness: This is not true.

Defence: The statement you’ve given in this Tribunal is a taught one.

Witness: This is not true.

Defence: You’ve also given witness to the Investigation Officer as you were taught.

Witness: This is not true.

Defence: You’ve given false witness concealing the truth.

Witness: This is not true.

Then the Tribunal told that as the trial of this witness is completed today and the defense has not submitted the original copy of the book mentioned in previous day, so that portion which mentions the book have been expunged. They have to submit further application for this purpose.

The next date was fixed as 08/8/2012 for new witness.