The Hindu : National : `Enough evidence to show Godhra train fire was an accident'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 12, 2005

National

National

`Enough evidence to show Godhra train fire was an accident'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 11. In his first official response to the criticisms levelled against the interim report of the Godhra inquiry committee, Justice U.C. Banerjee has said his conclusion that the 2002 fire that took the lives of 59 train passengers was an accident, was based on a thorough examination of the evidence on record.

In an interview to Outlook magazine, the retired Supreme Court justice said it is quite impossible that 60 litres of inflammable material could have been thrown into a coach full of kar sevaks who did not react at all, as the police alleges. "I not only have witnesses and material evidence but also tested the theory myself. I tried to throw water inside a coach from the windows. Only 10 per cent goes inside," he is quoted as saying.

Justice Banerjee also ruled out the official theory that the canvas in the vestibule connecting coaches S-6 and S-7 was cut open by miscreants and petrol thrown inside. "I gather that the canvas that was supposed to have been `slashed open' to throw inflammable material has been sold as scrap. There is no trace of it. But I tested this theory again with a piece of really old canvas. I tried to cut it open. The canvas can be slashed but there are iron bars stitched within this material. How does one slash those? Are you telling me that the spontaneous crowd that had gathered there came so extensively equipped that they could cut through iron bars to throw petrol inside the coach? It is an implausible theory".

The retired judge also refuted the charge levelled by Justice K.G. Shah of the Nanavati-Shah commission that he had not examined Gujarat police officers. "I sent four letters to the police officials ... to which they have not replied. What has been communicated to me is that they cannot come unless there is a clearance from the government. I presume their deposition has not been cleared (by the Gujarat government)".

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National