SIT opposes plea to examine prosecutors in Naroda gam case

The SIT, which probed into various 2002 riot cases in Gujarat, has opposed a plea by defence counsel in the Naraoda Gam massacre case to examine two public prosecutors to ascertain if Hindus were angry after the Godhra train carnage on February 28, 2002.
Defence counsel Chetan Shah sought the permission of the special SIT court, which is hearing the case, to examine two public prosecutors, Viha Patel and Gaurang Vyas, to ascertain if there was anger and anguish among Hindu community after the burning of Sabarmati Express at Godhra on February 28, 2002.
The Defence counsel sought the public prosecutors' examination on the ground that they had put up the same question before the accused while trying to know if there was anger among Hindus that caused the massacre at Naroda Gam in Ahmedabad.

The SIT opposed the application yesterday saying the Supreme Court judgement has prohibited examinination of the prosecutors as defence witnesses.
It said the fact that there was anger and anguish among Hindus after the Godhra carnage has already been testified by various witnesses and therefore, there is no need to examine public prosecutors about the same.
Special Judge P B Desai has reserved his order on the matter for Friday.
The Naroda Gam massacre is one of the nine major riots cases investigated by the SIT. Eleven persons belonging to the minority community were killed in Naroda Gam in 2002 riots during a bandh call given to protest the Godhra train burning incident.

A total of 82 persons are facing trial in the case. The Supreme Court had in September last year given the special court six months' time to conclude trial. Among the accused is former BJP minister Maya Kodnani.