Author: Times News Network
Publication: The Times of India
Date: December 23, 2003
In a joint operation on Sunday night,
the CID (crime) and the local crime branch Himmatnagar city claimed have
found a 'rocket launcher' and three crude bombs during raids from riot-torn
areas of Vorwad and Chhapariya, and arrested five persons. Sabarkantha
district was the worst-affected in post-Godhra communal riots.
An official release said that offenders
belonged to areas of city which had been under curfew during last year's
riots for a time and had planted the bombs different spots at Vorwad area
of Himmatnagar.
The police stated that the accused
had actually disposed off 30 such bombs a month ago, for fear of being
found out. The 'rocket launcher', has been fabricated using the jumper
pipes of a motorbike.
These explosives, the police said,
had been planted nearly a month after the riots began. The accused are
Moin Mukhtar Ahmed Vora, Nasir Abdul Razzak Valjiwala, Sarfaraz Matlawala,
Mushtaquim Yunus Vora and Iqbalsha Ahmedsha Diwan.
However, none of the accused have
previous criminal records, nor have they lost family members in the riots,
the police said. They were booked under the Arms Act and the Explosive
Substance Act besides sections of criminal conspiracy under the IPC.
