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No government role on 2002 riots: Godhra panel

Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November19, 2014
URL:   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-government-role-on-2002-riots-Godhra-panel/articleshow/45198165.cms

More than 12 years and 25 extensions later, the Nanavati commission on Tuesday submitted its final report on post-Godhra riots, including 4,160 cases of violence between February 27 and May 31, 2002.

 "The commission has concluded that there was no direct involvement of the state government in cases of rioting, but it felt that there was a scope for improvement in police department to control the violence," top sources said.

 The commission comprises retired Supreme Court Justice G T Nanavati and retired high court Justice Akshay Mehta. They handed over the report, running into more than 2,000 pages, to CM Anandiben Patel. "It is up to the state government to make it public," said Justice Nanavati, who refused to comment on content of the report.

 On delay in completing the inquiry, he said, "We would have submitted the report earlier. There was a delay of more than two years because SIT refused to share investigation papers with us. Also, because of (IPS) Sanjiv Bhatt who frequently moved HC."

READ ALSO : Gujarat HC adjourns hearing on Godhra carnage appeals

 The commission had submitted its first report on the burning of S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express in Godhra in September 2008, where it said that the attack was a planned conspiracy.

 For inquiry into post-Godhra riots, the commission perused more than 50,000 affidavits submitted by riot victims. It also examined hundreds of witnesses including IPS officers P C Pande, R B Sreekumar, Rahul Sharma, Sanjiv Bhatt, former home minister Gordhan Zadafia and others.

 Despite the elaborated scope for examining ministers and the chief minister, the probe panel did not question then CM Narendra Modi, who faced severe criticism for not being able to control the riots that witnessed 1,169 deaths in three months. The commission had said there was not enough evidence showing Modi's involvement and hence his presence and questioning was not required.

 Not questioning Modi indicates that there is no indictment of him in this inquiry. When asked, the judges said, "No comments, please." The investigation by Supreme Court-appointed SIT has also given Modi a clean chit. The SIT went on to praise riots control measures taken by the Modi government.

    
On March 3, 2002, Justice K G Shah was appointed as a one-member inquiry commission to probe the Godhra carnage case. But later, Justice Nanavati was appointed as chairman and the probe was expanded to post-Godhra violence also. In 2004, the commission's scope of inquiry was further expanded to question the CM also. In 2009, Justice Shah died and Justice Mehta was appointed as member in his place.
 
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