The Hindu : National : Shift riot cases outside Gujarat, says Centre

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Shift riot cases outside Gujarat, says Centre

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Centre has asked the Supreme Court to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct a fresh probe into the Godhra carnage and post-Godhra riots and transfer all cases outside Gujarat to ensure a fair trial.

After the Godhra train carnage on February 27, 2002, Gujarat witnessed large-scale communal violence in which hundreds of people were killed.

Acting on petitions from the National Human Rights Commission and other human rights activists, the apex court in November 2003 stayed trial in the cases. The matter comes up for further hearing on Tuesday.

The petitioners sought re-investigation by the CBI and transfer of trial in all major cases — Godhra, Gulbarg Society, Naroda Patiya, Baranpura, Machipith, Tarsali, Pandarwada and Raghovpura — outside Gujarat, expressing a fear of miscarriage of justice if the cases were held in the State.

Main allegations

In its affidavit on Monday, the Centre said, “The main allegations are: in many of the cases, police officials themselves are the perpetrators of the crimes; in most cases the victims have complained of police complicity and inaction; in a number of cases the police have refused to register FIRs or registered faulty FIRs; and generally the conduct of the police has been such as not to inspire confidence.”

Tehelka expose

The Centre pointed out that even as the petitions were pending, Tehelka on October 25, 2007 released a report, “The Truth – Gujarat 2002: In the Words of the Men Who Did It.”

It said: “This report claims to be prepared on the basis of a ‘sting operation’ pertaining to the Gujarat riots.”

In light of these circumstances, the Centre said it supported the petitioners’ demand.

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