12-15-2008, 05:09 PM
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news ... ed/398622/
<b>Victims say earlier statements were fabricated</b>
Vikram Rautela
Posted: Dec 15, 2008 at 0432 hrs IST
<i>
Ahmedabad Tell SIT that human rights groups, relief camp authorities made them sign statements written in English, which they could not understand</i>
In a shocking revelation, six victims of the 2002 Naroda Gam riots have told the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that their statements submitted at several places in connection with the case were fabricated and recorded without their knowledge.
In its first chargesheet in the case (number 98/02) filed before a city court here on Wednesday, the Supreme Court-appointed SIT has appended copies of the depositions of the riot victims recorded by it during investigation. The Newsline has a copy of the chargesheet.
The issue assumes significance as the places where these statements have been submitted include the apex court.
<b>In their depositions before the SIT, at least six of the victims have alleged that their earlier statements (recorded by some human rights groups and âauthoritiesâ in the Shah-e-Alam relief camp for the riots victims that year), were incorrect and fabricated.</b>
In her deposition before the SIT in February this year, victim Madina Pathan (25) retracted from her statement in the affidavit filed before the Supreme Court in 2003 and told the SIT that no one had raped her that day.
<b>The affidavit submitted in the court had sought a CBI inquiry into the case claiming the woman was beaten up and later raped by a person who was part of a Hindu mob.</b>
Madina disclosed that one Nanumiyan, who along with a Delhi-based human rights group is petitioner in this case, had got these statements recorded by their counsels.
âThese affidavits were in English and I do not know what was written on the paper that I was made to sign. No one had raped me,â says her statement, adding she was stabbed on her hand by a rioter and her family members were burnt alive by the mob.
Another victim, Maqsood Miyan Pathan, who according to the earlier affidavit, had seen two men getting out of a car and handing over a black suitcase to the then Naroda police inspector, K K Mysorewala, following which the latter reportedly left in his officials vehicle, has also retracted from this.
The two men in question here were Naroda corporator Vallabh Patel and former corporator Ashok Saheb.
<b>He told the SIT that âsome counsels of an NGO had written all this without my knowledgeâ.</b>
âCounsels in the office of a prominent notary were âinstigatingâ me and other victims to name more persons in their statements,â Maqsood said in his statement.
Four other victims of the case, who have retracted from their earlier statements are Raffique Mohammed Hussain Sheikh, Mohammed Razak Mallik, Mohammed Raffique Hussain Miyan Mallik and Rahim Miyan Rasool Miyan Mallik.
Earlier, 53 people, including the then Bajrang Dal leader Babubhai Bajrangi, were arrested by the city police in connection with the case.
Of the total of 29 fresh names of the accused that opened up during the SIT investigations, 24 have been arrested, two are now dead, two are unidentified and one is absconding.
<b>Victims say earlier statements were fabricated</b>
Vikram Rautela
Posted: Dec 15, 2008 at 0432 hrs IST
<i>
Ahmedabad Tell SIT that human rights groups, relief camp authorities made them sign statements written in English, which they could not understand</i>
In a shocking revelation, six victims of the 2002 Naroda Gam riots have told the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that their statements submitted at several places in connection with the case were fabricated and recorded without their knowledge.
In its first chargesheet in the case (number 98/02) filed before a city court here on Wednesday, the Supreme Court-appointed SIT has appended copies of the depositions of the riot victims recorded by it during investigation. The Newsline has a copy of the chargesheet.
The issue assumes significance as the places where these statements have been submitted include the apex court.
<b>In their depositions before the SIT, at least six of the victims have alleged that their earlier statements (recorded by some human rights groups and âauthoritiesâ in the Shah-e-Alam relief camp for the riots victims that year), were incorrect and fabricated.</b>
In her deposition before the SIT in February this year, victim Madina Pathan (25) retracted from her statement in the affidavit filed before the Supreme Court in 2003 and told the SIT that no one had raped her that day.
<b>The affidavit submitted in the court had sought a CBI inquiry into the case claiming the woman was beaten up and later raped by a person who was part of a Hindu mob.</b>
Madina disclosed that one Nanumiyan, who along with a Delhi-based human rights group is petitioner in this case, had got these statements recorded by their counsels.
âThese affidavits were in English and I do not know what was written on the paper that I was made to sign. No one had raped me,â says her statement, adding she was stabbed on her hand by a rioter and her family members were burnt alive by the mob.
Another victim, Maqsood Miyan Pathan, who according to the earlier affidavit, had seen two men getting out of a car and handing over a black suitcase to the then Naroda police inspector, K K Mysorewala, following which the latter reportedly left in his officials vehicle, has also retracted from this.
The two men in question here were Naroda corporator Vallabh Patel and former corporator Ashok Saheb.
<b>He told the SIT that âsome counsels of an NGO had written all this without my knowledgeâ.</b>
âCounsels in the office of a prominent notary were âinstigatingâ me and other victims to name more persons in their statements,â Maqsood said in his statement.
Four other victims of the case, who have retracted from their earlier statements are Raffique Mohammed Hussain Sheikh, Mohammed Razak Mallik, Mohammed Raffique Hussain Miyan Mallik and Rahim Miyan Rasool Miyan Mallik.
Earlier, 53 people, including the then Bajrang Dal leader Babubhai Bajrangi, were arrested by the city police in connection with the case.
Of the total of 29 fresh names of the accused that opened up during the SIT investigations, 24 have been arrested, two are now dead, two are unidentified and one is absconding.