The Hindu : '2 lakh people lost their belongings in Gujarat'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 16, 2002

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'2 lakh people lost their belongings in Gujarat'

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 15. There was total chaos, widespread violence and destruction of property belonging to the minorities and more than 1,000 people lost their lives, following the Godhra train carnage, social activists Mallika Sarabhai and Digant Oza and journalist, Indukumar Jani, said in a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court today.

In the month-long violence, two lakh people had lost their houses, properties and many of them had taken shelter in relief camps, where conditions were miserable and unhygienic.

Appearing for the petitioners, senior counsel, P.Chidambaram, contended that the State police were so biased that they did not even register proper charges against the perpetrators of terror against the minority community.

The petitioners alleged that the appointment of an inquiry commission by the State Government, headed by a retired judge of the High Court, K.G. Shah, was only an eyewash and a device to prevent genuine inquiry by other authorities such as the National Human Rights Commission.

Justice demanded that the inquiry be conducted by a special investigation team (SIT), they said and sought a direction to this effect.

The petitioners also prayed that the SIT be directed to invite complaints from victims of communal riots and register them.

They also wanted to determine the liability of the State, the BJP and the VHP and to direct them to pay compensation for loss of life, injuries and properties.

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