MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

night. Organisers of the "closed" camps say they have been taken for a ride by Collector Srinivas, who
made them write applications requesting closure with oral promises. (Indian Exp 5.7.02)
6 th July
Riot victims return home, get killed (7)
Gandhinagar, July 5: TWO VICTIMS of the communal riots in Gujarat, staying in a relief camp, were
battered to death by miscreants when they returned to their house in a Vadodara village on Thursday
night, the police said. The father and son duo of the minority community were staying in the relief camp for
the past four months. However, following perceptible improvement in the situation, they mustered courage
to return to their house in Vadodara's Sinor village. The father and son, aged 70 and 25 respectively, were
sleeping in a make-shift plastic tent in their village as their house was badly damaged in a mob attack.
The miscreants, armed with sharp weapons, attacked them, the police said. Meanwhile, the State
Government termed as "misleading" media reports on findings of a probe into the Godhra carnage which
suggested that combustible substance was probably hurled from inside the train. It, however, said Ram
Sewaks were attacked with inflammable liquid in a "pre-planned" manner. Hindustan Times 6.7.002)
6 th July
Godhra forensic report raises questions (7)
Ahmedabad, July 5: The investigation into the Godhra train fire has revealed that at least 60 litres of petrol
was used to torch passenger car S-6 of the Sabarmati Express and, since it was completely charred from
the inside, it was clear that the intensity of the fire was more inside than outside. The police is now
investigating whether so much petrol was already there inside the bogey in separate cans or did the
attackers board the train with the cans when the train halted at Godhra railway station. Additional DGP
(crime) A.K. Bhargava says the police is trying to ascertain whether the petrol sample from the bogey
matches, petrol samples from nearby petrol pumps and garages, investigating officials are yet to find out
the exact source of the petrol used in the incident though an initial investigation did prove that it was not
stolen or procured from the closest petrol pump or garages in advance. (Asian Age 6.7.02)
7th July
Muslims will not observe self-curfew (7)
Ahmedabad, July 6: Muslims in tire sensitive Dariapur and Shahpur areas of Ahmedabad plan to defy a
police "request" to observe a "janata curfew" during the rath yatra on July 12. They say that unlike every
year, when they remain huddled inside their homes, this time they want to come out and "welcome the
yatra in their respective localities." This stance has put the Ahmedabad police in a.tight spot because the
police fears this gesture of communal harmony might backfire and result in violence. Every year, Muslims
in sensitive areas of the walled city observe a voluntary curfew on the day of the rath yatra and do not
venture out till the yatra passes. All shops and business establishments remain closed. But this year the
Muslims are not willing to observe a self-imposed curfew. (Asian Age 7.7.02)
7 th July
Post-Godhra violence: Nine accused of arson acquitted (7)
VADODARA: In what is believed to be the first judgement in Gujarat in a case of post-Godhra violence, a
court on Saturday acquitted nine persons accused of torching shops belonging to Muslims in Lunawada of
the Panchmahals on February 27. All have been acquitted for lack of evidence. The Lunawada police had
registered a complaint following the incident which took place in a Hindu locality after the Muslim owners
had pulled down shutters early sensing tension in the wake the train carnage in Godhra. The police
arrested nine Hindus from the scene of crime but could not shore up their case with independent
eye-witnesses. (Indian Exp 7.7.02)
7 th July
Temple refuses to pitch tent big enough for all (7)
ASIND : JULY 6: TENSION is building up again in Asind town of Rajasthan where an ancient Kalandari
mosque was demolished by Gujjars on July 27 last year. Like that time, the provocation was die Urs
—with tents being set afire by Gujjars led by Mansukh Singh, president of die Ra-jesh Pilot brigade. This
year, despite four peace committee meetings, the Sawai Bhoj Mandir Trust, on whose premises the