Gujarat riots: SIT concealing evidences to protect politicians, say victims

Some of the victims of 2002 Gulberg housing society riots in Ahmedabad have accused the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) of concealing evidences to protect politicians and high-ranking policemen in the post-Godhra communal violence case.

The allegations were levelled by their lawyer SM Vohra while making submissions in a local court on their application seeking a stay on the trial in the case till SIT submits its final report.

Judge BJ Dhandha, after hearing all parties - the applicants, the accused and the prosecution - reserved his order on the application till November 18.

Seeking a stay on the trial, Vohra contended unless all evidences related to the case were submitted in the court, prejudice could be caused to the trial.

He said SIT has probed the complaint of Zakia Jaffery, whose husband Ahsan Jaffery was among those killed in the violence, on a direction of the apex court, and demanded that its findings related to the Gulberg case be placed before the court.

Zakia's complaint had alleged inaction on the part of top Gujarat government officials to contain the statewide riots triggered by the February 27, 2002 Godhra train carnage.

SIT was not submitting relevant evidences in the court as it wanted to protect some powerful politicians and high-ranking police officers who have been accused of dereliction of duty by the riot victims, Vohra claimed.

He said the court should wait for the evidences to be submitted by SIT and till then, stay the trial. This would not cause any prejudice to the accused as there is already a stay on pronouncement of judgement in the case by Supreme Court.