Author: Stavan Desai
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 21, 2004
Introduction: report justifies the
SIT's failure to arrest accused despite 'best efforts'
So will the Special Investigating
Team (SIT) probing the Godhra train carnage be able to arrest the 45 accused
still absconding? Not without divine intervention, the team would have
you believe. That's why the SIT says that its failure to arrest the absconding
accused, despite the "best of efforts," because "it's God who ultimately
grants success."
This was told to special POTA judge
Sonia Gokani on May 10 by investigating officer, DSP (Western Railway)
Noel Parmar, in a case-progress report.
At last 13 of these absconders are
allegedly members of the core team, which-according to the SIT's theory-had
set the S6 coach on fire at Godhra station on Feb 27, 2002.
Justifying its failure, the report
says that "officials involved in investigations have been doing their best
to arrest the absconding accused. They are unable to look after their families
and have in the last two years, not enjoyed any leave because of the investigation.
But sometimes success is not attained despite efforts, and that's happening
in this case."
After submission of the report,
Judge Gokani questioned the prosecution whether the investigating officer
was obliging the system by making efforts to arrest the accused.
Sources in the State Legal Department
said the POTA court has since then directed the prosecution to report Parmar's
justifications for his failure to the supervising officer of the case,
ADG Police (CID, Crime) Kuldeep Sharma.
Parmar justifies the SIT's failure
to nab the accused by arguing that most belong to the close-knit Ghanchi
community whose members support and help the accused evade arrest.
In his earlier March 31 report,
he told the court about the violent protests and attacks the team faced.
"Please note that despite above-mentioned hazards, I and my team have not
abandoned the drive to arrest these accused."
