HT Jodhpur, July 22, 2004

The recording of the Summary of Evidence (SoE) in the Siachen ‘Killings’ Case today witnessed Major Surinder Singh the accused in this case alleging the Army for not providing key documents related to this case.

Expressing his inability to carry on the cross-examination of Colonel K.D. Singh the then Commanding Officer of the 5/5 Gorkha Rifles, Major Singh said that he has not got the original documents and video CDs of the ‘action’ reported by the battalion.

“What is the reason that they are not providing any of the documents or material in which there is an involvement of Col. Singh. I have got a letter from higher officials in which they have clearly mentioned that they can not provide the Battle Damage Assessment List of the 5/5 GR,” said Singh.The headquarter of the 102 Infantry Brigade today send few more documents according to the list presented by Major Singh few days back.

The material sent by the brigade headquarter include the situation reports of some of the ‘actions’ and two video CDs containing video footages of the action.Brigadier Philip Campose the Officer Recording (SoE) while reading out the covering letter along with this material informed that one of the video CD contains copies of all the videos submitted by the 5/5 GR.

“The other CD is reportedly contains the ‘action’ of the battalion on 6,7 and 8 August 2003,” he added.Major Singh was not satisfied with the material provided to prove his point at the SoE.

“The copies of the excerpts of the original videocassettes are already available as the exhibit material. I had demanded for the originals which are not being provided by the higher authorities,” he said.The OR, SoE said that the accused is free to raise his point at his present CO.

The proceedings were adjourned for evening with Major Singh preparing yet another letter for Brigadier Binod Kumar the Officiating Chief of Staff of the Desert Corps. Earlier when the morning session started, Major Singh asked Col. Singh about few of the ‘anomalies’ in the Identity Card Record Register of the 5/5 GR.

“Why you yourself have made the entry regarding the destruction of your old identity card,” he asked. Col. Singh replied that it was not wrong for him, as a CO, to make some factual entries in such manner.