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AHMEDABAD: A special SIT court, which hears the case of killing of British Nationals near Prantij in north Gujarat during the 2002 riots, has issued notice to two police officers and kept their deposition on Friday. Designated judge Geeta Gopi has issued summons to senior cops - then superintendent of police J R Prajapati and DySP N S Solanki in response to an application filed by newly-appointed special prosecutors. The new prosecutors - R C Kodekar and N K Dahiya sought examination of these two cops at the fag end of the trial after one of the British envoys - Howard Parkinson stated before the court last month that an anonymous letter containing eight names of the accused persons was forwarded to Gujarat's DGP by him and he had recommended that an inquiry should take place. Accordingly, the DGP held an inquiry and even communicated the outcome of the inquiry to the former British high commissioner. The prosecutors contended that the letter which has been taken on record as well as other investigation materials, was gathered during the inquiry on the British envoy's insistence and was also part of the court papers. However, there was a need to ascertain the veracity of the documents and therefore those officers that conducted the probe were required to be examined. Parkinson told the court in his deposition about his communication with the DGP on March 5, 15 and 26, 2002, wherein he asked for details about investigation in this case. Accordingly, the DGP later furnished details about the investigation conducted in the case to the high commission. Special prosecutor R C Kodekar said that on basis of Parkinson's deposition, he would now request the court to summon certain witnesses including the police officer that conducted investigation and submitted report on Parkinson's queries. In this case, Saeed Dawood, Mohammed Aswat Nallabhai, Shakil Dawood and a Gujarati driver Yusuf Sulaiman were killed on National Highway No 8 near Prantij. Imran was also traveling with them, but he escaped and later became the complainant. The designated court has examined 76 witnesses in this case. Three eye witnesses in this case have turned hostile. |
| SOURCE: The Times of India |
