2002 Gujarat riots: Special trial court questions states use of reserve police force

The Special Trial Court for the Gulberg Society Massacre,on Thursday,made oral observations against the state machinerys move to keep reserve police personnel at the Shahibaug headquarters in Ahmedabad during the critical hours of the riots on February 28,2002.

The Special Trial Court for the Gulberg Society Massacre,on Thursday,made oral observations against the state machinerys move to keep reserve police personnel at the Shahibaug headquarters in Ahmedabad during the critical hours of the riots on February 28,2002.

Special Trial Judge B U Joshi made these remarks during the hearing of an application moved by the lawyer of the victims to arraign eight more as accused in the case. One of the eight include the police constable Rajesh Jinger. In their depositions before the court,some witnesses have named Jinger as an accused,stating that he was part of the rioting mob,which attacked Gulberg Society.

The Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has opposed the application. In the case of Jinger,they have taken the defence of alibi.

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Special Judge B U Joshi said the reserved force is kept for emergency situation. He asked what could have been more a appropriate situation to use this force than the 2002 riots in Ahmedabad.

According to the SIT,following the orders of the then Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police,Jinger,an armed constable,was stationed at the Shahibaug headquarters between 7 am and 10.30 pm as part of the reserved police force. The SIT said that Jinger had gone for the protection of Justice (Retired) Nanavati at 7 pm and returned only at 10.30 pm.

Joshi also made remarks on the authority preferring to send an armed policeman of the reserved force for protection of a retired Judge when people were being killed.

Naroda massacre case: Witness identifies six accused

An eyewitness in the 2002 Naroda Gam Massacre case,Ganibhai Mansuri,identified six accused in the Special trial court of Sessions Judge S H Vora on Thursday.

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Eleven people were killed in the massacre. The accused in the case include BJP legislator Maya Kodnani and former Vishwa Hindu Parishad General Secretary Jaydeep Patel.

The six identified by Mansuri include Sunil alias Madrasi alias Chinki,Navin Kadiya,Ashwin Joshi,Jayesh Decorationwala,Pramukh Patel and Bhikhabhai Ghantiwala.

Mansuri,an autorickshaw driver then,was cross-examined by the defence lawyers.

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2002 Gujarat riots: Special trial court questions states use of reserve police force

The Special Trial Court for the Gulberg Society Massacre,on Thursday,made oral observations against the state machinerys move to keep reserve police personnel at the Shahibaug headquarters in Ahmedabad during the critical hours of the riots on February 28,2002.

2002 Gujarat riots: Special trial court questions states use of reserve police force

The Special Trial Court for the Gulberg Society Massacre,on Thursday,made oral observations against the state machinerys move to keep reserve police personnel at the Shahibaug headquarters in Ahmedabad during the critical hours of the riots on February 28,2002.