The Hindu : National : Mass grave unearthed in Gujarat

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Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005

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National

Mass grave unearthed in Gujarat

The bodies might be of those killed in Pandharwada village

AHMEDABAD : Relatives of victims of the 2002 communal violence in Gujarat today claimed to have exhumed skeletal remains from a mass grave in Panchamahal district of those believed to have been killed in the post-Godhra riots.

While police could not give details of the incident, Teesta Setalvad, an activist who runstheNGO, Citizens for Justice and Peace, said the bodies might be of those who were killed during the post-Godhra riots in Pandharwada village. The grave is located near Panam river in Lunavada village.

Sohail, a social worker hailing from Lunavada, said though the exact number of bodies buried in the grave was not known, the relatives have recovered eight skulls and excavation was on in the area to recover more bodies.

When contacted, Gujarat DGP A K Bhargava said he did not have any information about the digging of the grave, which he was trying to ascertain.

Superintendent of Police, Panchamahal District, J K Bhatt, said he was sending a team of officials, and could say something only after he has heard from his team.

Setalvad, who has taken up the cases of families of the victims in various courts including the Supreme Court, said she would move the Gujarat High Court in this regard.

Riaz Khan, Field Coordinator for Teesta's NGO, who hails from the village concerned, said the relatives had dug the spot and found numerous skeletons and clothes which they suspect may have belonged to their relatives who were killed during the violence.

Setalvad said her writ petition in the High Court on Wednesday would seek reinvestigation of the whole case, which should be handed over to the CBI — PTI.

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