MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

man paints an elephan outside Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Around eleven elephants
are expected to take part in the Rath Yatra (H.Times, July 12, 2002)
12th July
3 accused admit setting fire to train at Godhra (7)
Baroda, July 11: Three accused in the Sabarmati Express carnage case, arrested by the Godhra, police
on Wednesday, have reportedly confessed that they carried inflammable material into the S-6 coach and
later set it on fire. This is the first confession which gives credence to the Forensic Science Laboratory that
about 60 litres of petrol was used and the coach was set on fire from the inside. The arrest of these three
persons is the latest in the Godhra case, in which 68 persons were earlier booked under various charges
for setting the Sabarmati Express coach on fire and burning 59 persons to death. Although no official
confirmation of this confession is yet available, police sources admitted that a "major breakthrough in the
Sabarmati Express case can soon be expected." Mehmood Yakub Bhopa, 35, Hassan Ahmed Lalu, 23,
and Ramzan Bin Yamin, 32, were arrested from Signal Falia on, Wednesday in connection with the
Godhra carnage. They were produced before the railway court and have been remanded to the police
custody till July. (Asian Age, July 12, 2002)
13 th July
Dialogue between RSS and 'Muslim representatives' condemned. (7)
THE ALL India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawiirat (AIMMM) lias condemned, the dialogue arranged by the
National Commission for Minorities (NCM) between the KSS-VIIP and "Muslim representatives" on July 15
to bring about reconciliation between two communities.
Calling upon (ho NCM to desist from being a party to "operation cover-up". AIMMM president Syed
Shaliabuddin said thq Maulanas "handpicked" for the dialogue did not carry "am; weight within the Muslim
community”. In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Shuhabuddin said; the AIMMM was not against a, frank
and sincere dialogue, "with due preparatory work between the representative cross-section of the
leadership of both communities in various fields of activity". Mr Shaliabuddin said the Sangh .Parivar could
nut be regarded as the sole representative, of the Hindu community. "The Sangh Parivar and specially the
VHP and its militant wing Kajrang Dal arc believed to, have been associated with planning and execution
of the recent genocidal programme in Gujarat and the purpose of the exercise at this stage is to cover up
and whitewash their crimes against, the nation and to restore their, standing among the people." he. said.
(Pioneer 13-702)
13th July
Ahmedabad rath yatra peaceful (7)
AHMEDABAD, JULY 12. The Gujarat administration, police and the people heaved a sigh of relief as the
125th rath yatra of Lord Jagannath ended peacefully in Ahmedabad today after passing through the
sensitive traditional route amid unprecedented security. Reports said that the yatra was also peaceful in
Bhavnagar, the second most sensitive city, Vadodara, and other 'major centres of the State. The yatra,
however, was not without hiccups. Even after a night-long combing operation in different parts of
Ahmedabad, in which pistols and live cartridges were recovered and five persons arrested in the Da-riapur
locality, police continued to search sensitive areas before the "rath yatra" started afitfc' seized five
local-made "racket launchers," nine country-made guns, 12 live cartridges, 20 bombs and other
equipment in Shahpur and arrested 10 persons, who the Crime Branch said, "belonged to some suicide
squad." Responding to the appeal of the police authorities, the size of the yatra was not only reduced to
one-third, but the" temple trust also ensured that the yatra was completed in time, with all the three main
chariots returning to the temple before sunset. Normally, the rath yatra ends around midnight. (Hindu
13.7.02)
14 th July
Gujarat police fires at mob (7)
Baroda, July 13: Two persons were injured in police firing and several others were injured in an incident of
stone pelting in Petlad town of Anand district during the Rathyatra procession, Unconfirmed reports said
that 22 persons were injured. The police opened fire after heavy stone pelting started on Rathyatra
procession passing through the minority dominated areas around 7 pm on Friday. ' Speaking to The Asian