It’s hush hour at Godhra

Apart from the teeming policemen keeping a close watch on the place and the people,the only others who were seen moving around were journalists,both from print and television. Many were seen frantically scouting for leads in the vicinity of Godhra Railway Station,seeking help to get in touch with the family members of the 11 convicts who were ordered to be hanged.

It was only in the afternoon that a local advocate,Ramzani Juzara,came to the rescue. He convinced Abdu Razzak Abdul Sattar Samol,father of Ibrahim Abdul Razzak Samol who has got a lifer,to speak to media. As the cameras panned towards him,the grieving father said,“I don’t know how to face this. There is hardly any hope left. I have 12 children,six boys and six girls. Three of my daughters are married and three have left. I had asked my son to start working — he used to pull a hand-cart— to earn and feed the family. He is my seventh child. When the incident had taken place,he was sleeping till 9.30 am.”

Two-and-a-half years after the 2002 incident,the Railway Police picked up Ibrahim. “Every day,we thought he would come home. I thought there will be some relief for my son in the end but I was wrong,” said Abdul.

As more journalists started gathering around him,Abdul seemed a little uneasy. At the request of reporters,the local lawyer tried telling him to come to the Godhra Railway Station for the benefit of cameras,but the old man had had enough. “Ab mein chalta hoon,namaaz ka waqt ho gaya hai. Itna bol diya kafi hai. (Let me go now as it’s time for namaaz. I have spoken enough).”