Former Gujarat DGP writes to PM, seeks 2002 riot records

Former Gujarat DGP R B Sreekumar today wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking his direction to Ministries of Defence and Home to submit records in their possession related to 2002 communal riots to the SIT and Nanavati Commission.
"I humbly request you to issue directions to MoD and MHA for presenting all evidence concerning 2002 Gujarat riots, particularly copies of reports and extracts of registers and records in their possession, to the SIT and Nanavati Commission," he said in the letter.
The 1971-batch IPS officer, who retired in 2007, said, "The riot victims often complain that Union Government has not been providing crucial records to probe agencies."

Sreekumar has also sought the records regarding duties related to law and order performed by Army and Central Para- Military Forces (CPMF), who come under Ministry of Home Affairs, during the post-Godhra riots.
"I had requested the Justice Nanavati Commission and SIT to collect relevant information and inputs about riots from functionaries of Army and CPMF.
"I had submitted representations to Defence Minister A K Antony and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde requesting them to instruct the authorities concerned to provide germane materials to the probe bodies," he said.

Criticising the Centre's approach towards those who suffered in the violence, he said, "The victims nurture bitter resentment about the Union Government's seemingly inadequate commitment to get the planners, organisers and facilitators (of the riots) punished."

"The UPA Government failed to appoint a judicial commission to enquire into the role of the Gujarat Chief Minister and other seniors in the political, bureaucracy and police establishments in the riots," said Sreekumar, who was heading the intelligence wing during the communal flare-up.
"It also failed to enact a comprehensive law relating to prevention and containment of communal riots, and fixing command responsibility of functionaries," he said.
The Supreme Court-appointed SIT and Nanavati Commission are probing the Godhra train carnage and the subsequent widespread riots in the State.