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Maharashtra agrees to CBI inquiry into riot case

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has agreed to let the CBI investigate the Hari Masjid firing in which six people were killed during the Mumbai riots of 1992-93.

The State is expected to file an affidavit to this effect on September 27 in the Bombay High Court, where a writ petition has been filed by Farooq Mapkar, injured in the Hari Masjid firing.

A delegation of non government organisations met Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil to object to the double speak on the government’s part as far as riot victims were concerned.

The delegation included Shakeel Ahmed of Nirbhay Bano Andolan, Teesta Setalvad of Citizens for Justice and Peace, advocate Yusuf Muchchala and members of the Women’s Research and Action Group. It pointed out that after the government had committed to forming special courts and had set up a committee to examine cases which could be transferred to those courts, it refused to file a case against policemen indicted by the Srikrishna Commission in the Hari Masjid incident.

On Tuesday, the Mumbai police filed affidavits saying there was no need to prosecute the policemen involved in the firing, as demanded by Mr. Mapkar. The policemen, they said, were exonerated by the Special Task Force set up to inquire into the riot cases.

Mr. Mapkar in his petition demanded a CBI inquiry into the Hari Masjid firing as well as cases to be registered against Nikhil Kapse and other policemen who were responsible for the firing on January 10, 1993.

After a discussion with the delegation, Mr. Patil agreed to their demand for a CBI inquiry . However, he later told the press that he was for an impartial inquiry into the incident. Dr. P.S. Pasricha, director general of police, Maharashtra told The Hindu that the police had no objections if the government wanted the CBI to investigate the case.

Mr. Mapkar, who was injured in the firing, was also accused of rioting by the police. He was among the 50 persons chargesheeted in the case. His trial was separated last year while the others were acquitted.

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Maharashtra agrees to CBI inquiry into riot case

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