39 jawans cross-examine four witnesses

Thirty-nine mutineers of 24 Rifles Battalion yesterday cross-examined four witnesses before the Special Court-7 at BDR headquarters in the city.
One also pleaded guilty on the 12th day of the trial proceedings at the Darbar Hall in Pilkhana.
The court, headed by BDR Director General (DG) Maj Gen Md Rafiqul Islam, adjourned the proceedings against 667 accused of the battalion till December 18.
Eight accused cross-examined the 20th witness of the mutiny case while 31 accused cross-examined three (21st-23rd) witnesses -- Havildar Delwar Hossain, Havildar Abdul Wahab Talukdar and Sepoy Taposh Biswas after their depositions before the court.
Havildar Delwar, in his deposition, told the court that the accused of 10 Rifle Battalion who were then attached to 24 Rifle Battalion expressed solidarity with the mutineers, took part in the mutiny, and chanted slogans.
Delwar also said the accused fired blank shots saying, "We will teach them what war is. We have pacified Hill tracts, now will calm Pilkhana".
Meanwhile, Sepoy Shahidul Islam of 28 Rifles Battalion, who was attached to 24 Rifles Battalion during the mutiny last year, pleaded guilty. The court took his plea in consideration. Earlier, 29 accused pleaded guilty before the court.
The BDR DG said the court accepted the written prayer of Sepoy Abdul Baset of 24 Rifles Battalion, who was sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court on December 1. The court will give order on him on December 18 when the proceeding will resume, he said.
Some 324 accused out of 667 of the battalion have so far cross-examined 23 witnesses.