The Hindu : National : Doubts raised over conspiracy angle to Godhra train carnage

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Wednesday, Jun 30, 2004

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National

Doubts raised over conspiracy angle to Godhra train carnage

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD, JUNE 29 . The version of the railway police official who initially investigated the Godhra train carnage in February, 2002, raise doubts about the Gujarat Government's claim that the burning of 59 "kar sevaks" alive was a "pre-planned conspiracy."

The then Deputy Superintendent of Police, western railway, Ahmedabad division, K.C. Bawa, who retired from service in March 2003, told the G.T. Nanavati and K.G. Shah commission of inquiry probing the Godhra train carnage and the post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat, that the railway police had no information that the "kar sevaks" were returning from Ayodhya by the Sabarmati Express on that day. He claimed that the railway police had no system of passing on such information among themselves.

Mr Bawa's was the first major cross-examination of officials before the commission, taken up at the request of the advocate for the Jan Sangharsha Manch, Mukul Sinha. While Mr. Bawa's cross-examination was inconclusive and would be resumed tomorrow, Mr. Sinha, when asked, said the initial replies of Mr. Bawa create doubts about the Government's conspiracy theory. He pointed out that if even the railway police was unaware about the return of the "kar sevaks," how could the local Muslims who were alleged to have "conspired" to set fire to the coach, have their travel details.

Mr. Bawa said he had reached Godhra a day after the incident on February 27 and had found the ill-fated S6 coach of the Sabarmati Express already in the railway yard. Till he arrived, no "panchanama," (police statement before witnesses) was signed. He said the coach was open and many people, including the Chief Minister and a large number of other VIPs and others had entered the coach, which could have caused destruction of valuable evidences. There was no explanation why the "panchanama" which under the rules should be filed within 24 hours, was delayed.

The railway official also admitted that no witnesses had told the investigating police officers of having seen anyone entering from the side of the adjacent S7 coach to set fire to the ill-fated coach, the theory initially floated by the police. The fire was believed to have started from the side of berth number 72, which was the last berth in coach S6 but Mr. Bawa could not say how the fire started if no one entered from the S7 side.

According to Mr. Bawa, the first time the chain was pulled to halt the train after it left the Godhra platform was because some "kar sevaks" had not boarded the train but he could not say who pulled the chain the second time and why, about a kilometre away from the station when it was near the Signal Falia locality where the coach was set afire. Asked why the police report did not mention about the first chain-pulling, Mr. Bawa said it did not seem important particularly because the statements of the witnesses attached to the report everywhere mentioned about the "kar sevaks" being left behind on the platform.

According to Mr. Bawa's testimony, there were more than 100 passengers in the ill-fated coach at the time of the incident of which only 54 were "authorised" passengers meaning travelling with valid tickets. Though he said most of the 59 killed were "saffron-clad kar sevaks," there were only 11 "authorised" passengers among the deceased.

Though Godhra did not fall within his jurisdiction as he was posted in Ahmedabad division then, he could not say why was he entrusted with the task of investigating the case.

5 held for post-Godhra riots

Five persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the Derol massacre in Panchmahals district which claimed six lives during the post-Godhra communal riots, police today said.

The alleged culprits, arrested on June 27, were remanded to police custody till June 30, H.M. Vala, sub-inspector of Kalol Taluka told PTI.

Police have arrested 20 persons since June 24 for their alleged involvement in the massacre of 23 people in two separate incidents of post-Godhra communal riots in Delol and Derol village of the district.

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