Video file of encounters in Siachen go missing

A piquant situation developed in the military court recording the summary of evidence in the Siachen fake killings case here Saturday when a video presentation file of the encounters could not be found on a computer hard disk.

The computer storage device had been sought in the court by Major Surinder Singh, accused of fake killings in Siachen last year, but the witness who claimed he edited the video presentation on October 10, 2003 for higher officers could not find the file.

The witness Major Vikram Sharma when asked by the accused officer if he was an expert in video he replied in negative but said he had edited the video presentation of various encounters in Siachen.

When Major Singh demanded that an expert be called to open the file, a military expert was called but he could not locate it.

Singh's request that a civil expert be called was rejected by presiding officer of the court Brigadier Phillip Campose who said no civilian could be allowed as it was a military matter.

Earlier, during his cross examination the witness said he had edited the video presentation although he was not an expert.

On who asked him to edit the video presentation, Major Sharma said Colonel K D Singh asked him to do so.

Major Singh has also been asked to give the list of his witnesses and get the recording of summary of evidence completed quickly.

The military court is recording the evidence as a follow up of a court of inquiry which held Colonel Singh and Major R Lamba responsible for administrative lapses and recommended disciplinary action against Major Surinder Singh for making exaggerated claims.