Caught on camera, they slipped out of Gujarat cell

AHMEDABAD, MAY 24: They were caught on camera, but the police couldn’t keep them behind bars. They are those who targeted stores and looted clothes, shoes and other consumer goods when riots flared up in Ahmedabad on February 28. Unknown to them, the electronic eye was watching. A week later, 79 were arrested for robbing stores such as Pantaloons, Titan and Akbarally’s. Two months on, all are out on bail.

With few chargesheets being filed, trial is yet to begin. The frequent transfers of senior police officers have halted investigations. And there being no time limit on filing chargesheets in such cases, those arrested went scot free.

The Naranpura, Navrangpura and Satellite police arrested 79 people, including 13 women. Among these, most cases were registered at Navrangpura — as many as 16. Only two were arrested. No chargesheets have been filed yet. Four cases were registered with Naranpura police and 64 people were arrested. Chargesheets were filed in two cases.

These stations come under Zone-I whose DCP V.M. Parghi was transferred as violence continued. ‘‘He knew about each case registered in his jurisdiction. That helped us,’’ said an inspector.

ACP (B-Division) P.N. Barot was entrusted with investigation of Gulbarg Society and Naroda-Patiya massacres. ‘‘I have returned to my office after two-and-half months. I was not able to concentrate on offences in my area as my time was devoted to Gulbarg Society and Naroda-Patiya. But with those cases now handed over to Crime Branch, I will be able to look into them,’’ he said.

NCM’s community meet

NEW DELHI: National Commission for Minorities will hold a Hindu-Muslim meet on May 27, the first time after the riots, to bring about harmony and normality in the state. ‘‘We have already got acceptance of nearly 40 religious leaders from Hindu and Muslim communities for the meeting. It was postponed earlier because of ‘non-conducive’ atmosphere in Gujarat,’’ NCM vice-chairman Tarlochan Singh said. (PTI)

However, some officers feel that after arrests, they don’t get enough time to prepare chargesheets. ‘‘The violence continued and we had to divert most of our force and time. Then there were the frequent VIP visits. With the situation returning to normal now, investigation will speed up,’’ said a senior police officer.

According to Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), chargesheets have to be filed within 60 days of arrest of the accused in offences which entail a punishment of less than 10 years. In offences with punishment of more than 10 years, chargesheets have to be filed within 90 days. The condition applies only when accused are in custody and aren’t granted bail upon arrest.

Barot seconded the view. ‘‘In none of these cases are the accused in judicial custody. Hence, there is no time limit. But our investigations are going on and will soon be completed.’’