The Hindu : Eminent citizens to probe Gujarat riots

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

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Eminent citizens to probe Gujarat riots

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 30. Eminent retired Judges, comprising V.R. Krishna Iyer, P.B. Sawant, Kuldip Singh, Hosbet Suresh and Rajinder Sachar, will lead a Concerned Citizens Tribunal, to enquire into the incident of arson at Godhra and subsequent riots in Gujarat.

The Tribunal, which will also include prominent personalities from different walks of life will sit for a fortnight from mid-April and conduct its sittings in three cities of the violence-ridden State.

It will examine and investigate the State-wide violence that took lives, destroyed property and attacked cultural symbols and places of worship of sections of the population.

The terms of reference of the Tribunal, which also includes Mallika Sarabhai, Girishbhai Patel, Indubhai Jani, Cedric Prakash, Jimmy Dabhy, Hani Lakdawala, will be: Investigation will include among other things the fallout of the Ramjanmabhoomi movement that includes the demolition of the Babri Masjid and atmosphere and incidents in Gujarat thereafter.

Investigation into political policies followed by the BJP Government since it assumed power in Gujarat in February 1998; into the facts of incidents and circumstances behind the Godhra train massacre on February 27, and whether or not the Godhra incident was pre-planned and guided by a foreign hand.

Investigation into the probity with which the State Government controlled the violence and protected the lives of citizens; took measures — preventive and otherwise once the violence was unleashed — and investigated the cases of crime and launched steps for the punishment of the guilty.

Investigation into the existence of groups and organisations, which openly espouse the cult of violence and are alleged to be in the forefront of verbal provocation and exoneration of acts of violence.

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