BDR Trial at Pilkhana
Mutineers planned to destroy all evidence: Prosecutor
The BDR mutineers had planned to destroy all evidence of murders in the carnage at their Pilkhana headquarters in February last year by burning the bodies of slain army officers in an oxidation plant that generates intense heat, revealed the prosecutor of a mutiny case yesterday.
But they turned back from their earlier plan and buried the bodies in mass graves, he said. "Possibly, they did not know how to operate the plant used to dye arms to protect those from rust … There could be other reasons too."
The prosecutor, Lt Col Jayed Hossain, was talking to newsmen following trial proceedings of 622 accused BDR jawans of 13 Rifle Battalion and Signal Sector at the Special Court-8 housed in the Darbar Hall at Pilkhana.
He said as the plant is situated near 13 Rifle Battalion, they dug the mass grave near it and majority of those involved in burying the bodies were from this battalion.
Meanwhile, all the 622 accused from this battalion yesterday termed the killing of army officials a "dastardly act". They raised their hands when the court asked them to do so if they believe it was a gruesome incident.
Of the accused, 138 are charge-sheeted in the case filed for murder, arson, loot and dumping of bodies in sewerage lines.
The Special Court -8 headed by BDR Deputy Director General Brig Gen Obaidul Haque asked for a pause as a touching video footage was screened in the court showing retrieval of mutilated bodies of army officers from mass graves.
The court then asked prime accused in the case Subeder Major Zubayer, a bearded man, what type of sin it (the carnage) was in the eye of Islam. He replied it was "Kabira Gonah" (the worst sin).
Then the court told the accused in the dock, "How many of you agree with him, raise your hands." In no time, all of them raised their hands. It then said if any one disagreed with him, but none responded.
Complainant of the mutiny case, also the first prosecution witness, Subedar Fariduddin Ahmed screened the heart rending video footage at the court as he was placing evidence against 63 accused. Earlier on Sunday, he had submitted partial evidence against them.
After his submission, 14 of the accused cross-examined the complainant.
The court was adjourned till 10:00 am today.
The charges against all the accused include leaving the Darbar Hall during a Darbar on February 25 last year ignoring the directive of the then BDR director general when a chaotic situation was created there, not informing the higher authorities about the mutiny in time, disobeying the lawful authorities and taking arms and ammunition illegally from different armouries.
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