Jamshedpur, June 4: Three key witnesses in the Nirmal Mahto murder case were cross-examined in the fast-track court of VIII A.K. Gupta, with counsels of CBI attending the proceedings against murder accused Dhirendra Singh alias Pappu.

The witnesses who were cross-examined by the defence included Nirmal Bhattacharya, Suresh Khaitan and Akhtar Hussain. Bhattacharya was the driver of the slain Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Nirmal Mahto, whereas Akhtar Hussain was the driver of Congress leader Suresh Khaitan.

According to sources, all three witnesses supported the prosecution’s stand and said they watched Dhirendra Singh alias Pappu shooting Nirmal Mahto soon after Birender Singh opened fire.

The three told the court that the shootout occurred in front of them at the portico of Chamaria guesthouse in Bistupur on August 7, 1987 morning.

In the separate deposition made before the court, the three said they witnessed the shootout.

According to sources, the three witnesses said soon after Birender Singh shot at Nirmal Mahto, Pappu and Narender Singh alias Pandit joined him and fired one shot each at Mahto after which the JMM leader fell down in a pool of blood.

The three were later on cross-examined by the defence. During the cross-examination, witness Suresh Khaitan deviated from his statement and said he did not see anyone firing at Nirmal Mahto. But the other two stood by their statement.

There were in all 43 witnesses in the case of which six witnesses have died during the period. Dhirendra Singh alias Pappu had surrendered in October 2001, almost a month prior to the first judgment on the murder case was pronounced.

First additional district judge S.K. Murari had in September 2001 convicted Birender Singh in the case and sentenced him to rigorous life imprisonment.

Birender Singh died in Sakchi Jail last year after suffering from a prolonged illness. The court would begin the trial of the third accused Narendra Singh alias Pandit later on.