HT Correspondent

Jodhpur, July 23, 2004:
Colonel K.D. Singh the first witness in the Siachen ‘Killings’ Case today said that the contradiction in his statements, regarding the CDs containing the video presentations of the ‘actions’ of the 5/5 Gorkha Rifles in Siachen, is due to play of memory.

Major Surinder Singh the accused in this case asked Col. Singh that earlier he had stated that three VCDs, sent to the 102 Infantry Brigade, were destroyed by them. “But, later on the brigade headquarter sent those CDs. Will it be correct to say that you had intentionally given the false statement to conceal the truth,” he asked.

“This may be a play of memory,” replied Col. Singh adding that during the Court of Inquiry (CoI), he had asked for some CDs and was informed that they had been destroyed. “I mixed-up these CDs with the those sent with the video presentation,” he said.

During evening session, Major Singh asked Col. Singh whether the then General Officer Commanding (GOC), while visiting the Glacier area between October 6 and 9, 2003, had directed to submit the video presentation. Col. Singh replied in affirmation.Major Singh now questioned Col. Singh’s that statement in which he had said that he had not seen the video presentation of October 10, as there was a paucity of time. “If you were directed in advance, then where was the paucity of time,” he said.