diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/tools/BCMMarkDupes.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/tools/BCMMarkDupes.java
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..5e8b22807
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/tools/BCMMarkDupes.java
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.playground.tools;
+
+import net.sf.samtools.*;
+import java.io.*;
+import java.util.*;
+
+
+/**
+ * 
+ * Marks duplicate reads in a sam or bam file based on start point and strand of the alignment.
+ * Requires: java samtools "picard".  java 1.5 or better.
+ * 
+ * Note, will not unmark duplicates.  The final number of duplicates marked at the end is not necess. the total number of marked duplicates in the final output file.
+ * bam or sam type is inferred by the number of arguments, read order, header, filetype is preserved in the output file.
+ * 
+ * Usage: <sam or bam file> [index file if using bam] <output file>
+ * @author bainbrid
+ *
+ */
+public class BCMMarkDupes
+{
+	final static String inHT = "ht";
+	
+	/**
+	 *  Usage: <sam or bam file> [index file if using bam] <output file>
+	 * @param args
+	 * @throws Exception
+	 */
+	public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception
+	{
+		int cnt = 0;
+		int dcnt = 0;
+
+        // begin hack by kiran
+        
+        /*
+		if(args.length != 2 && args.length !=3 )
+		{
+			throw new Exception("Invalid number of arguments.\n"+usage());
+		}
+		boolean isBam = args.length == 3;
+		String inputfile = args[0];
+		String index = null;
+		if(isBam) index = args[1];
+		String outputfile = args[1];
+		if(isBam) index = args[2];
+		*/
+
+        String inputfile = args[0];
+        String index = inputfile + ".bai";
+        String outputfile = args[1];
+        boolean isBam = true;
+        
+        // end hack by kiran
+		
+		//set the reader and writer, and header
+		SAMFileReader sfr = null;
+		if(isBam)
+			sfr = new SAMFileReader(new File(inputfile), new File(index));
+		else
+			sfr = new SAMFileReader(new File(inputfile));
+		Iterator<SAMRecord> iter = sfr.iterator();
+		SAMFileWriter fw = null;
+		SAMFileHeader header = sfr.getFileHeader();
+		if(isBam)
+			fw = (new SAMFileWriterFactory()).makeBAMWriter(header, true, new File(outputfile));
+		else
+			fw = (new SAMFileWriterFactory()).makeSAMWriter(header, true, new File(outputfile));
+		Hashtable<String,String> ht = new Hashtable<String,String>(2000000);
+		
+		//iterate through file and mark dupes
+		while(iter.hasNext())
+		{
+			
+			SAMRecord rec = iter.next();
+			int start = 0;
+			String strand = "N";
+			if(rec.getReadNegativeStrandFlag())
+			{
+				start = rec.getAlignmentEnd();
+				//start = rec.getUnclippedEnd();
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				strand = "P";
+				start = rec.getAlignmentStart();
+				//start = rec.getUnclippedStart();
+			}
+			if(start == 0) continue;
+			cnt++;
+			String chromo = rec.getReferenceName();
+			String key = chromo+strand+start;
+			String s = ht.get(key);
+			if(s == null)
+			{
+				ht.put(key, inHT);
+				//rec.setDuplicateReadFlag(false);
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				rec.setDuplicateReadFlag(true);
+				dcnt++;
+			}
+			fw.addAlignment(rec);
+		}
+		fw.close();
+		System.err.println("Total records:"+cnt);
+		System.err.println("Records marked as duplicates:"+dcnt);
+		System.err.println("HT:"+ht.size());
+		
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+	
+	public static String usage()
+	{
+		return "usage:\n\t<sam or bam file> [index file if using bam] <output file>";
+		
+	}
+
+}