Church activists hail reopening of Gujarat riot cases

New Delhi: Church activists have lauded the Indian Supreme Court for directing Gujarat state to reinvestigate closed cases from Muslim–Hindu violence in 2002, Ecumenical News International reported.

Head of the Gujarat diocese of the Church of North India Bishop Vinod Malaviya, said activists and others were extremely happy about the order. It will reopen over 2,000 cases recorded in 2002 after 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in violence in 2002. The incident happened after allegations that a Muslim group had set fire to a train, killing 59 Hindus.

The court criticised the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) for closing the cases. The BJP had said they closed them because the accused could not be traced. But human rights groups said police often looked the other way during the riots and that state authorities had been lax in prosecuting the perpetrators.

Head of Roman Catholic action group Prashant Rev Father Cedric Prakash was among those spearheading a campaign for justice for the victims. "This is the best thing that has happened to the riot victims. It is unprecedented in Indian history," he said. "Most of the riot victims can now hope for justice and compensation."

– By A Correspondent.