National   

Godhra: ‘hydrocarbon samples tampered with’

Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD: In a sensational development, Mukul Sinha, advocate for the Jansangharsha Manch representing the communal riot victims, argued before the G. T. Nanavati and K. G. Shah judicial inquiry commission on Tuesday that the hydrocarbon samples collected from the ill-fated S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for testing were “tampered” to get the “desired result.”

Concluding his cross-examination of the FSL assistant director (chemistry), D. B. Talati, Dr. Sinha pointed out to the commission the discrepancies in the Gas Liquid Chromatography charts prepared by the Laboratory on the hydrocarbon samples and claimed that “liquid petrol” was deliberately added in the samples to “justify” the Gujarat Government’s stand of the fire in the coach being a “pre-planned conspiracy.”

Continuing here on Tuesday Mr. Talati’s inconclusive cross-examination on June 20, Dr. Sinha pointed out that the ratio of various components of hydrocarbons in petrol as shown in the FSL charts could be obtained only in fluid unburned petrol and not in the residues of hydrocarbons after being burnt.

Giving calculations of the experts, Dr. Sinha said while the ratio of high volatile components should be less in the residues once the petrol was burnt, the charts presented by Mr. Talati showed the opposite result which indicate the presence of unburned fluid petrol in the samples.

Mr. Talati, who was repeatedly asked by Mr. Justice Nanavati to clarify if he considered the results in the charts prepared by the FSL as a “discrepancy” as claimed by Dr. Sinha, replied in the negative.

He said since he had not tested the samples “quantitatively” and also did not have “text book knowledge” of the ratio of various components in petrol, he was not competent to answer the question.

Dr. Sinha later told the mediapersons that he would request the commission to get the charts examined by some more experts to establish the authenticity of the presence of hydrocarbons in the samples.

Pointing out that there was nearly 24 hours gap between the fire in the train and the collection of the samples sent to the FSL for testing, Dr. Sinha said during the interim period hundreds of people had entered the coach and visited the site on the outskirts of the Godhra railway station.

It was possible for anyone to sprinkle a few drops of petrol both inside and outside the ill-fated coach before the samples were collected, he argued.

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

Stories in this Section

Shekhawat a non-partisan candidate, says Vajpayee
It’s improper camouflage, says CPI(M)
Shekhawat banks on ‘conscience’ vote
“Armed Forces Act will stay for now”
Godhra: ‘hydrocarbon samples tampered with’
Jayalalithaa opposes Nimitz docking
“Drug abuse a security concern”
Naxals damage railway lines, traffic hit in Bihar, Jharkhand
HIV+ students’ future uncertain
Centre keeping watch
No State-level talks on Nandigram for now
Case against ABCL reverted
Chandrayaan to be launched next year
Monsoon likely to hit Delhi over this weekend
“Don’t construe self-defence right narrowly”
BJP seeks CMs’ meet on agriculture
“Disqualify Natwar”

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu