2002 riots cases: Gujarat govt revokes security of witnesses, former judge (Indian Express)

In November, security cover for principal city sessions judge Jyotsna Yagnik, who had convicted 32 of the accused in the Naroda Patia case involving the massacre of 97 persons, was revoked.

December 29, 2023

The Gujarat government has revoked the security cover provided to witnesses, lawyers and a retired judge in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases, as reported by The Times of India. TOI quoted officials who said that this decision came on December 13, following a recommendation by Special Investigation Team (SIT) chief BC Solanki.

15 years ago, a special witness protection cell was formed by a Supreme Court-appointed SIT in nine riot-related cases that it was handling including Naroda Patia and Gulbarg.

According to the Centre’s reply tabled in the Parliament earlier this year, 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed, 223 were reported missing and 2,500 injured in the Gujarat riots of 2002. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat at the time of the riots.

This story was originally published in newindianexpress.com. Read the full story here .