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For justice, Guj riot witnesses may get new IDs: SIT

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Vikram Rautela

Posted: May 08, 2009 at 0820 hrs IST

Ahmedabad Maintaining that his top priority was protection of witnesses in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases, R K Raghavan, former CBI Director who now heads the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Godhra train carnage and some of the worst riot cases, on Thursday said that some witnesses may be given “new identities” for protection during courtroom trials expected to begin soon.

“We are still in the process of drafting a proper innovative plan for protection of all our witnesses. It is the testimonies of these witnesses which will establish the guilt of accused before the court. The SIT proposes to have a special helpline for those who want to testify before fast-track courts to be set up across the state soon. It is possible that we may have to give some of our important witnesses new identities for their protection and to ensure that a fair trial is conducted in all the nine cases we have investigated,” Raghavan told The Indian Express.

According to records, there are some 200 witnesses in these nine cases. “We shall provide police protection to witnesses who ask for it. We may give that to more based on our own assessment,” Raghavan said. Stating that both state police personnel as well as Central security agencies could be asked to protect witnesses, he said: “I want the media to disseminate the message that all witnesses in the 2002 riot cases can depose before courts freely, without apprehension of threat or coercion from any person.”

Changing identities completely to protect witnesses is not new but not common in India. Witness protection has become a major issue in the Gujarat cases ever since the flip-flop by Zaheera Sheikh, key witness in the Best Bakery case in which trial was held outside Gujarat for the first time. The U-turn by Zaheera Sheikh and her family is believed to have been the result of threats initially and other means later.

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For justice, Guj riot witnesses may get new IDs: SIT by N.V.SANKARN on 23 May 2009

It may be interesting to all of you that the bail application of Ms. Maya Kodnani, one of the cabinet ministers of the Modi government was rejected by the Gujarat HC just before the elections. Her bail application has now been approved, just 2 days after the election results were declared on the grounds that the witnesses' statements are not consistent. She remained in the jail for 47 days.

probe testa stelvad by meher on 10 May 2009

after SIT giving this judgment that few cases are fabricated by the ngo of testa stelvad gujarat government should file a litigation in supreme court asking to probe the role and motive of testa stelvad in fabricating this cases where is she gettting the funds, on whose directive is she working, and whats the motive behind that,moreover certain media channels role needs to be probe there is strong rumours that one or two english channel received massive funds after2002 gujarat riots to only highlight the minority, and they have done it quite comendable job, and one of the channel managing editor receive huge sums for that, any common individual or lawyer can submit this litigation against this NGO"S as they are doing more worst than doing any justice,

Guj riot witnesses may get new IDs: SIT by N.V.SANKARAN on 10 May 2009

This is interesting. The SIT has said that the witnesses need protection, but has not identified the source of the potential threat to them. The threat could possibly be from those who want to crucify Mr. Modi. Already the SIT had reported that the witnesses' submissions produced by Ms. Teesta Setalvaad were fakes and that some of those cases were just fabricated. One wonders whether those who are now praising both the SIT and SC now would accept a verdict if it clears Mr. Modi, since they already convicted him based purely on media reports.

Answer to Ishwar by 2adil2patut on 09 May 2009

You are one hundred percent right Ishwar, there will be blood bath if the Supreme court finds Modi and his government guilty of the inhuman killings, burning the dead bodies to destroy evidence, rape of women, bribing Dalits to kill the Muslims, setting fire only to the shops of Muslims in a huge shopping complex- how did they accurately know the Muslim shops? Which govt dept provided such accurate information? Why I say blood bath because this is the philosophy of the perpetrators of violence, they will become more violent if their guilt is proved and so they will do more killings, of course Gujarati Muslims again, slumdogs-jamal and salim, petty shop keepers, and on, and more central govt. properties will be set on fire. This is the main reason why the Indian Govt is not taking any action on the real king pin terrorists like Bal Thackeray, Togadia, because the law enforcement authorities think that let few huge terrorists survive rather than thousands of innocent people dying.

REPLY TO SURESH THE SAMARITAN INDIAN by suralishiek GUJ on 09 May 2009

Suresh you do not have to worry about it because the Hitler ruling Gujarat will look after it/has looked after it/will continue to look after it, He is the perpetrator, he is the investigator and most probably, indirectly, by implications he will be the witness and judge, so nothing to worry about, many cases have been brought against the ""MUSLIMS"" who set the coach S 6 on fire, you will hear the verdicts soon, SIT is more worried about the killings of 2000 Muslims in cold blood because the victims being poor and politically castrated their families depend on the honesty of the Supreme Court and the fairness of the Constitution because Modi can never ever be trusted ..Did the world trust Hitler in 1942? Same story my brother. Try to have some sense of proportion and rationality and kill your fanatical emotions, all human beings are equal in the eyes of one True Almighty God, punish every one whoever is guilty no matter whether he is a Musalman or Hindu or Sikh or Nasrani or Yahud

suralishiek by N.V.SANKARAN on 28 May 2009

Have your facts correct. The SIT is appointed by the honourable Supreme Court. The Nanavati commission which had earlier cleared Mr. Modi was also appointed after SC approval. I believe that the Judiciary in this country has remained unbiased. If at all anybody who can pressurize the SC, it is only the Central Government led by the Congress not that the SC ill succumb to such pressures, and not by the state government of Gujarat. So your allegations that Modi will manipulate the investigations shows your disrespect to the SC.

The BJP wants to blame everyone else except itself !! - Part 2 by Sujeet Ramanna on 08 May 2009

Does the spineless BJP even have a reputation in this country to blame a premier institution like the Supreme Court. Its the only law institution in the country that the people resolutely believe in. Is there any institution of this country the BJP trusts?!! It seems like the BJP wants to blame everyone else itself. Maybe if it takes a hard look at itself in the mirror. They will realize that their genocide making, hate mongering, nation-dividing, civil-war creating ways is finally catching up with them and staring them right in the face. No party wants to align with them. No organizations wants to be associated with them. It finds itself a pariah and desperately alone in the political landscape. Bad Karma finally give them back their well deserved justice. The Supreme court will deal a telling blow to Narendra Modi and he will come crashing down to the ground.

The BJP wants to blame everyone else except itself !! - Part 1 by Sujeet Ramanna on 08 May 2009

First it was the CBI, the BJP cyber clowns wanted to blame because it sided with the Congress when the reports came out that the Bofors investigations was being delayed by the CBI. Then a couple of days later, the BJP themselves were found to be delaying the investigations on the Gujarat genocide investigations with the CBI. Then these BJP cyber clowns started blaming the media for being 'biased' and siding with the congress! So there was the CBI and media that seemed biased against the BJP, Nice! Now when this reports come out, the BJP cyber clowns blame the Supreme court, the most prestigious law institution in the country for being biased towards the Congress.

SC Move by Hari on 08 May 2009

We really appreciate the move by the SC to investigate further into the gujarat riots case as this would clear Modi once and for all from this mess. Enough damage has been done to his image by the so called seculars and the media. Media is rather interested in crucifying than reporting.

TEESTA and her vicious gang's ROLE in spreading the LIE FALSEHOODS should be investigated by Ravi on 08 May 2009

TO R K RAGHAVAN ----- Modiji has scripted the success story of GUJARAT with his dedication and sincerity to the progressof Gujarath. Congress cannot nail him on any issue but has only one issue GODHRA...GODHRA...GODHRA..which is a dead issue..Congress cannot survive without this GODHRA OXYGEN as it is in death bed...GODHRA IS A treacherous script authored by TEESTA - which is a total lie, BULLSHIT and all MISLEADING ABOUT THE GUJARAT RIOTS And BEST BAKERY CASE. SIT which has clearly pointed FINGER OF SUSPICION against TEESTA and her vicious gang for their ROLE in spreading the LIE FALSEHOODS AND COOKED UP STORIES about BJP and MODIJI should without fear or favour bring out the skeletons out of the cupboard of TEESTA... SHE has sold her stories to the BJP BAITING media and the media has done more harm to the image of India than BJP and Modi by their senseless and partison attitude....TIME will prove that TRUTH ALONE TRIUMPS....

TRAGEDY. by Vinod Dawda on 08 May 2009

One has to seriously ask if this new drama will contribute anything towards improving the relationship between Indians or would it fuel more intolerance. One also likes to think how far this flip flop helps to build the credibility of the highest court of the land when it is tranparently driven by political games.

THE SO-CALLED DEVELOPMENTAL AGENDA OF NITISH by Sunil on 08 May 2009

This media hype is taking things too far away from ground reality. Let us take their analysis on Bihar. All Media channels in Unison are talking so much about the developmental work of the Nitish regime and peoples endorsement of the same. If this is true, why there is such a low voter turn out in Bihar ? The IVth phase in the three constituencies saw a voter turn out of just a measly 37%. The Capital City of Patna despite the high profile candidates witnessed a turnout of below 40%. Ironically, it was the City where Nitish developomental card should have worked and it was not to be. Not that the other three phases evidenced a higher voter turnout. Even in those phases, the turnout was ranging between just 40-42%. Very low by any standards. What does the media have to say about this total indifference of the Bihari voters to the so-called developmental initiatives of Nitish ? Is this so-called developmental initiatives of Nitish a hype or a reality ??

FABRICATED CASES BY TEESTA SETALVAD by dilip khan on 08 May 2009

Will SIT also go into the case which were made falesly to malign the image of Gujarat and Modi? Will Supreme Court take similar action against the terrorist of J

SIT REPORTED THAT SETALVAD AND NGO'S SPICED UP GUJARAT RIOT INCIDENTS by N.R.I on 08 May 2009

SIT TEAM HAS ALREADY SEVERELY CENSURED N.G.O's AND SOCIAL ACTIVIST COW TEESTA SETALVAD.C.B.I DIRECTOR R.K.RAGHAVEN HAS ALREADY TOLD THE SUPREME COURT THAT SETALVAD COOKED UP MACUBRE TALES OF WANTON KILLINGS. THE 22 WITNESSES SUBMITTED IDENTICAL AFFIDAVITS IN COURT WERE FOUND TO BE TUTORED BY THESE SILLY COW SETALVAD.WITNESSES NEVER WITNESSED THE RIOT.INCIDENTS BY NGO's WIDELYY PUBLISHED ABOUT THE PREGNANT MUSLIM WOMAN KAUSAR BANU GANG RAPED AND FOETUS GOUGED OUT BY WEAPONS AND DUMPING OF DEAD BODIES IN WELL WERE TOTALLY FABRICATED AND FALSE.POLICE BOTCHED UP BRITISH NATIONAL KILLING.AS PER ROHTAGI REPORT HORRENDOUS ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE BY NGO's ARE FALSE.STEREOTYPED AFFIDAVITS WERE SUPPLIED BY COW SETALVAD WERE BASELESS AND TOTALLY FALSE.SHREE MODI ID TOTALLY INNOCENTI HOPE YOU WILL PRINT THIS TRUTH

Why Modi only? by J. Jayaraman on 08 May 2009

Long before Post Godhra, Hindus were were systematically driven out of Kashmir, Sikhs were targetted after Indra Gandhi's assasinations,there had been hostile witnesses much before Best Bakery Case etc. It is a wonder why Supreme Court cannot suo moto action in these matters. Are they also "secular" like many politicians.

WORST KIND OF HYPOSCRISY -- "ABONORMAL CONCERN" - Misplaced loyalties by Young Indian on 08 May 2009

Will the SUPREME COURT or any enquiring agency show the SAME seriousness and earnestness in other trail cases alsoa) 1984 Massacre of Sikhs by Congressmenb) NANDIGRAM MASSACRE by communistsc) BOFORS FRAUDd) BURNING of INNOCENT 58 HINDUS by muslim fundamentalists in SABARMATHI EXP...Not possible bhayya ... you are all desperate hypocrites and worst kind of pseudo seculars and Filthy SADISTS - when your own people are suffering at the hands of enemies you people will not only enjoy the melodrama and also provoke them to torture more ....

Beware by ishwar on 08 May 2009

There would be un uprising of animaginable scale if somehow the SIT tries to sabotage justice by asking for Teesta sponsored and doctored witnesses to depose before the fast track courts to implicate Mr. Modi. The Congress govt. should be squarely blamed if it happens.

Modi the best chief minister by V.K.Sunil on 08 May 2009

We never had any chief minister like him before who is bold enough and development centric. Why supreme court is not intrested in sikh riot case? we are not fools to belive that supreme court is free from politics.What about the stand taken by supreme court regarding the education bill? all this questions the credentials of supreme court ,at least some of the judges. Mr.vasu not to be too happy about the supreme court comments. All these drama happened during the eve of election and every body know what politics it is

Protection of witnesses°!!! by romesh.sharma on 08 May 2009

The witnesses may be given new IDs means malevolent exercise of manipulations by the congress and those who are all bent to defame Modi which automatically means defaming BJP and Hindus/Hindu Orgs.If these witnesses are really given new IDs who and how one can know the authenticity of the indivisuals?If some of them are given police protection how long police will keep them under umbrella?The Party,congress,led by Sonia has indulged into creating more and much wider gaps among people and communities.The inflexible rigidity and enviously dettered to exercise their power shows their trend of despotism as crushing as worst autocracy.This highly exaggerated concern of Congress Party to Gujrat riots and prolonged neglection of serious matters like killing of Sikhs are in order to give popularity to this party and Nehru/Gandhi clan and save from unpopulartiy of its crimes.This is to divert people's mind from internal questionswhich have become embarrassing and efface past memoray of crime.

Why always the Hindu Bashing? by Rahul on 08 May 2009

Our country's govt has become a joke. The Congress is playing politics of the Godhra train carnage and the riots that followed. Why hasn't this committee not been setup earlier? Why now at the time of elections? Is it because the Congress knows that its seat tally is sure to go down this time? What about the families of the "Kar Sevaks" who were burnt alive in the train?? What about their families? The Congress has ruled and ruined this country for 60 years. Its time they are kicked out of power.The Congress has made a mockery of the RSS which according to me is the only institution into genuine social work albeit their shortcomings. The problem in the country is that the RSS is equated with the Bajrang Dal and other hooligans who use Hindu religion name for their own purposes. Also,Narendra Modi might be or might not be accused in the riots case. The development work under him in Gujarat is unprecedented and unmatched elsewhere in the country. I am sure he'll be acquitted in all the cases.

Gujarat riots by Alex D'Mello on 08 May 2009

Whether it is NM or some one else should be punished for their role in the killings of innocents. It is not the question of any community, but a citizen of India. We have seen so many cases dragging it's feet, let this one be an example so that nobody dares to kill their own countrymen. Those who support the ideology of a particular party always get desperate when things don't proceed as per their whims

Wait by shade on 08 May 2009

In news itself it has been mentioned it is investigating train carange and riot cases , how peoples put remark without going throgh news.Any government come they have to follow our country justice system for popularity parties are declaring we will do this we will hang him at chowpaty,witihn 100 day we will hang him , these are only stunt so no use of blaming till we do not change judusiry system

SLAP ON MODI by Vasu on 08 May 2009

How many slaps Modi will get from the Supreme Court ? Not believing his Government, the SC appointed SIT to probe the Gujarat riots. Now with the set up of fast track Courts, the SC wants to speed up justice. This was a clear indication that justice was denied in Modi ruled Gujarat where witnesses were bribed and targeted by the RSS and Bajrang Dal goons. Previously, during the Godhra riots, the SC lambasted Modi and likened him to Nero who was fiddling when Gujarat was burning. I do not think any CM of this Country has received such strictures from the Supreme Court and still the shameless Modi is continuing in Office.

Is it SIT or FBI? by Sandeep on 08 May 2009

Mr Raghavan please stop acting like FBI or 007 Bond movie. Nobody cares for a witness in your case. It seems you are just trying to create witness instead of interrogating existing witnesses. You can have fun at medias expense. I hope that is purpose of SIT.

For justice, Guj riot witnesses may get new IDs: SIT by Indian on 08 May 2009

What about justice for the victims and families of people burned alive in train at Godhra? Why is the Italian and her govt. quiet on that? Why is there no justce for anti Sikh riot victims of 1984? This investigation is clearly politically motivated. No one now should be surpised or complai if people take law in their own hands to hand out "justice". People forget so easily what happened to Indira and Rajiv.

What a Joke!! by Dipesh on 08 May 2009

All these investigations are politically motivated by the corrupt congressis. They themselves cannot povide good governance and are trying to destablise the only state in India where there is genuine good givernance. Hopefully the congreess party will be decimated in this election

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