Police readies to file cases against Sena leaders

Police readies to file cases against Sena leaders
SHAILESH GAIKWAD

FEBRUARY 2: The Special Task Force (STF) on the Srikrishna Commission Report has initiated moves to file cases against Shiv Sena leaders indicted by the Commission.

In its monthly report, the STF has informed the State Government that it has sought the opinion of the Chief Police Prosecutor for filing cases against political leaders who were found guilty while scrutinising the report.

Further, the STF has urged the Government to make available advice of the Advocate General for initiating action against the Sena leaders indicted by the Commission in para 1.27 and para 1.2 of part I of the report. The leaders include Sena Chief Bal Thackeray, Union Minister for Heavy Industries Manohar Joshi and former Sena MP Madhukar Sarpotdar. The STF is seeking advice to decide whether their actions amounted to criminal offence, the monthly report says.

In para 1.27 the Commission has stated:``From 8th January 1993 at least there is no doubt that the Shiv Sena and Shiv Sainiks took the lead in organising attacks on Muslims and their properties under the guidance of several leaders of the Shiv Sena from the level of Shakha Pramukh to the Shiv Sena Pramukh Bal Thackeray who, like a veteran General, commended his loyal Shiv Sainiks to retaliate by organized attacks against Muslims.''

Para 1.2 says:``The attitude of Shiv Sena in the ``iTIME interview given by Bal Thackeray and its doctrine of `retaliation', as expounded by Shri Sarpotdar and Shri Manohar Joshi, together with the thinking of Shiv Sainiks that ``Shiv Sena''s terror was the true guarantee of the safety of citizens' were responsible for the vigilantism of Shiv Sainiks.

The STF has also sought the opinion of the Law and Judiciary department on reopening four cases lodged against Thackeray and others at Dadar Police Station under sections 153 (A) and (B) of the IPC. The cases had been closed by the previous government.

The STF is studying the Commission's observations against police officials and policemen for either abetting the rioteers or participating in the arson. They include R D Tyagi, then joint commissioner of special operation squad.

The task force has requested the court for permission to open three summary A cases and also arrested four persons in indiviual cases or rioting and looting. The task force has been appointed by the Democratic Front government to study the Srikrishna Commission report and initiate action according to the recommendations made in it.