Part of the exchanges between defence counsel M. Puravalen and Bangladeshi witness Moron Mozumder in Irene Fernandez's "false news" trial this afternoon. Mozumber spoke through an interpreter.

Q : Some of the next few questions may sound offensive to you, please bear with me. What was the reaction of the detainees who were participating in the masturbation exercise?

A : Most of them were unwilling. Those unwilling were beaten and were compelled to do it.

Q : They were forced to do it?

A : (Mozumder nods)

Q : How did you know they were unwilling?

A : At first I saw that they took the soap and held it in their hand, not using, and for that reason police beat them. I saw it with my own eyes.

Q : For purposes of the evidence of this record, I have to ask you this: Did you see the detainees having any erection?

A : Yes, they had erection.

Q : As a result of the erection, was there any ejaculation - as a result of the masturbation?

A : There was ejaculation.

Q : What did you see with your own eyes of this particular punishment? What was the reaction of the men? What did you see?

A : I've seen with my own eyes their reaction - that most of them kept their eyes closed, most of them were screaming due to pain.

Q : Due to pain?

A : Pain.

Q : What caused the pain?

A : They were weak in health, they were masturbating for a long period, there was no ejaculation and so painful.

Q : You have just described about the person who was masturbated. What about the person who was masturbating? The person who was masturbated was screaming in pain, what about the person who was masturbating him? How did he react?

A : The reaction was the same because he was also being masturbated.

Q : Both were doing it at the same time?

A : Same time.

Q : Where were the police, you said five to six police officers were around at this point in time, where were they?

A : They were beside the line.

Q : After the masturbation was completed, what was the reaction of the policemen?

A : Police were laughing and clapping.

Q : This clapping, did it start after the masturbating or after it was completed? What was the clapping for?

A : After the masturbating finished.

Q : What were they laughing about? What was the laughing about?

A : (Mozumder broke down in tears) It was pleasure for them.