Naroda case: SIT asked to probe role of four cops

A special court, hearing the 2002 Naroda Patiya riot case, on Wednesday directed the special investigation team (SIT) to further probe the role of four senior police officers in the "larger interest of justice", based on the phone call records provided by the victims.

A special court, hearing the 2002 Naroda Patiya riot case, today directed the special investigation team (SIT) to further probe the role of four senior police officers in the "larger interest of justice", based on the phone call records provided by the victims.

HT Image

Some of the victims in the case, in which 95 people were killed on February 28, 2002, during the post-Godhra riots, had last week sought further investigation in the matter and wanted four top-level police officers to be included as accused, contending that they were part of a conspiracy which led to inaction by police during the riots.

Special Judge Jyotsna Yagnik disposed of the victim's application after the investigating officer of the case, Himanshu Shukla, belonging to the SIT, filed a reply stating that further investigation was on and the final report, as directed by the Supreme Court, would be filed in a magisterial court that had taken cognisance of the crime in 2002.

Following this assurance by the SIT, victim's advocate Y B Sheikh did not press the demands made in their application.

Directing the SIT to look into the clues provided by the victims and make further investigation if not done so far, the court said, "It was important to look into the allegations in the larger interest of justice".

Special public prosecutor Akhil Desai submitted that the SIT would further investigate the phone call details of certain officers.

He said that the SIT would not hesitate to look into the clues provided by the victims and was willing to examine the matter afresh if so required.