Ten years on justice eludes Godhra victims

Justice continues to elude riot victims, even ten years after the Godhra train carnage, says a prominent Christian activist from the state.

Ten years ago, coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express was attacked while returning from Ayodhya on the outskirts of Godhra, Gujarat.

The torching of the coach on February 27, 2002 left 59 karsevaks dead and sparked off one of worst communal riots in Gujarat that claimed the lives of over 1500 Muslims.

"Plenty has happened during these past years. There have been some landmark judgements, pronouncements, and even convictions, which definitely point to the right direction; but on the whole, the wheels of justice grind very slowly," said Fr Cedric Prakash, a human rights and peace activist based in Ahmedabad.

Fr Prakash notes that little has changed since the incident. "There has not been the slightest hint or trace of remorse from those who control the lives and destinies of people. To the contrary, minorities in the state are still treated like second-class citizens and a good section of them are confined to ghettos without even basic amenities."

Some 134 people were accused of the Godhra carnage of which 94 were tried by the sessions court. At least 15 people have still not been arrested and are absconding. As many as 254 witnesses were examined and 268 witnesses dropped.

"Meticulous and manipulative efforts are made on all fronts, to subvert the cause of justice and prevent the whole truth from emerging," says the Jesuit priest who heads the Ahmedabad-based Prashanth, a centre for human rights, peace and justice.

Fr Prakash hoped that the state would awake to a reality based on Gandhi's vision of 'satyagraha' and 'ahimsa'.

Meanwhile, media reported that there is high security in Godhra today as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) plans a remembrance meet for those killed in Godhra attack.

VHP chief Praveen Togadia will lead the rally to the burnt S-6 Coach now kept at the Godhra railway yard, to pay homage to those killed in the incident.

The units of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have been ordered to be in alert in case of emergency.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues and other government functionaries have been accused of deliberate inaction in containing the anti-minority riots during the Godhra carnage.

In September last year, suspended IPS cop Sanjiv Bhatt alleged that Modi gave directions to the police and other officers "to allow Hindus vent out their anger" at a meeting on February 27, 2002 which he claims to have attended.