The proceedings of the special bench, consisting of NMC vice-chairman Bawa Singh and member James Massey, were held behind closed doors, and there was no briefing for the media. But officials and others who made representations before the bench said they were asked questions, which indicated that the bench wanted to go to the root of the problem.

Mainly, the questions were about the causes of the incidents, organisations behind them, why the administration allowed the Hindu Jagran Manch rally on Christmas, what preventive measures it took, whether the district magistrate and any other officer was felicitated at the rally, how long the government took to swing into action, and what kind of action it actually took.

At the end, everyone appeared optimistic. BJP spokesman Bharat Pandya claimed the bench looked satisfied with their presentation. Father Cedric Prakash, Co-ordinator of the United Christian Forum for Human Rights (Gujarat), was hopeful that the exercise would help create conditions in which ``all Gujaratis would live like brothers in Gandhi's land''.

While the bench members evaded the media, Supreme Court advocate O P Saxena, the amicus curiae, said the bench would present its report, which could be an interim report, before the commission on January 11. The proceedings were held behind closed doors because publicity to statements made before the bench could, possibly, have a fall-out on the Dangs situation, he said.

Unlike at the time of the visit of the commission's fact-finding team in last August, when Sangh Parivar outfits had organised demonstrations, the proceedings were peaceful. The commission had conveyed to the state government that it would not like any demonstrations at or near the venue of the hearing, and only small delegations could meet it.

The commission had summoned chief secretary L.N.S. Mukundan and DGP C.P. Singh, while about 35 delegations, including those from the BJP, the Congress, the RJP, the United Christian Forum for Human Rights (Gujarat), VHP, Hindu Jagran Manch, and certain organisations from the Dangs made presentations before it. A delegation from Bharuch, where violence took place last week, was also there.

The chief secretary informed the bench that permission for the rally was given because its denial could have led to violence. He said that the total loss in the incidents was Rs 4 lakh and a compensation of Rs 81,000 had already been paid. He also said that the Dangs had only one church and the other prayer houses were wood and thatch structures.

The BJP delegation, headed by party general secretary Gordhan Zadafiya, blamed ``certain English newspapers'' for blowing the incidents out of proportion, while the Congress, under Sonia Gandhi, was trying to make political capital. They said no one had died, nor had anyone suffered serious injuries. A similar rally was held at Ahwa on Christmas last year also, they said.

The Congress delegation, consisting of former MPs Haroobhai Mehta and Irshad Mirza, said that persons behind the incidents had official patronage. They submitted to the bench copies of certain pamphlets, circulated in the Dangs, to show that HJM and VHP were one and same. The HJM presented before the bench two boys who were injured in firing, allegedly by a Christian.

The district magistrates of the Dangs, Surat and Bharuch, who were also summoned, could not appear. The Chief Secretary reportedly informed the bench that the situation in the areas of these officers was still sensitive. Besides, the DM of the Dangs was busy making arrangements for the proposed visit of the Prime Minister on January 10.

He also reportedly told the bench that the government would happily provide whatever information it wanted from these officers. If still the bench felt it was necessary to hear these officers personally, the government would arrange to send them to Delhi at some later date. The commission accepted the suggestion, it is learnt.