Dec
2
Best Bakery Witness Recants, Again
December 2, 2004 | Comments Off on Best Bakery Witness Recants, Again
The second renouncement of key witness Zahira Sheikh further strained the fight for justice for victims and survivors of the 2002 pogroms against Muslims in Gujarat. Zahira Sheikh had initially identified the persons responsible for burning down her father’s factory and killing 14 people. In court, she became a hostile witness. Later, at a press […]
Oct
13
Updates to Gujarat Cases
October 13, 2004 | Comments Off on Updates to Gujarat Cases
There are several updates to the progress of cases arising out of the 2002 Gujarat pogroms of Muslims. In the case of the murder of seven people in Eral village, the Gujarat High Court ordered the reexamination of witnesses who had turned hostile in court: Madina Sheikh, a riot survivor and the original complainant, alleged […]
Sep
27
Human Rights Watch Releases Report on Gujarat; Best Bakery Charges Reframed
September 27, 2004 | Comments Off on Human Rights Watch Releases Report on Gujarat; Best Bakery Charges Reframed
On September 24, Human Rights Watch released a report, titled “Discouraging Dissent: Intimidation and Harassment of Witnesses, Human Rights Activists and Lawyers”: [The report] documents how Hindu extremists have threatened and intimidated victims, witnesses and rights defenders who are fighting for the prosecution of those responsible for the killing and injury of Muslims during the […]
Sep
23
Special Investigation in Gujarat Nears End; Charges Framed Against Best Bakery Accused
September 23, 2004 | Comments Off on Special Investigation in Gujarat Nears End; Charges Framed Against Best Bakery Accused
Soon after ordering the arrest of a Sub-Inspector of police for his role in the Ambica Society massacre during the 2002 Gujarat pogroms of Muslims, Indian Police Service officer Neerja Gotru was asked to conclude her probe: Neerja Gotru, Ahmedabad’s SP (Prohibition) who on the Supreme Court’s direction was assigned investigation of three post-Godhra riot […]
Sep
10
Gujarat Updates
September 10, 2004 | Comments Off on Gujarat Updates
After the Supreme Court ordered the review of over 2000 cases closed after the Gujarat pogroms, a senior IPS officer reopened three cases relating to massacres in Kalol town. In the case relating to the massacre of 13 people in Ambica Society, senior Indian Police Service officer Neerja Gotru arrested sub-inspector R.J. Patil: He had […]
Aug
26
Gujarat Updates: Commission and Courts
August 26, 2004 | Comments Off on Gujarat Updates: Commission and Courts
Last week, additional director general of police R B Sreekumar filed a 172-page affidavit before the Nanavati-Shah commission (investigating the 2002 Gujarat pogroms against Muslims) that demonstrates the complicity of the police with senior political party leaders in perpetrating the violence: It cites specific instances of police subversion in controlling the riots and manipulating investigations […]
Aug
17
Gujarat Updates: Supreme Court Orders Review of 2000 Cases
August 17, 2004 | Comments Off on Gujarat Updates: Supreme Court Orders Review of 2000 Cases
The Supreme Court has ordered senior police officers to review around 2000 cases closed after the 2002 Gujarat pogroms: The court wants the police to decide whether any of the cases should be reinvestigated… In its order, the Supreme Court called for the establishment of a cell headed by a senior police official to look […]
Aug
11
Bilkis Case Transferred to Bombay; Other Trials Stayed and Best Bakery Delayed
August 11, 2004 | Comments Off on Bilkis Case Transferred to Bombay; Other Trials Stayed and Best Bakery Delayed
The Supreme Court has decided to move the Bilkis case outside of Gujarat. This case arises out of the gang-rape of 3 and murder of 14 family members of Bilkis Yakub Rasool during the 2002 Gujarat pogroms against Muslims. This move follows in the footsteps of the Best Bakery case, which was the first pogrom […]
Aug
6
Documentary on Gujarat Pogroms Banned; Update on Gujarat Proceedings before Commission
August 6, 2004 | Comments Off on Documentary on Gujarat Pogroms Banned; Update on Gujarat Proceedings before Commission
The Indian Censor Board has banned Rakesh Sharma’s documentary on the right-wing Hindu politics of hate in India, titled Final Solution: The censor board’s letter states: “The film promotes communal disharmony among Hindu and Muslim groups and presents the picture of Gujarat riots in a way that it may arouse the communal feelings and clashes […]
Jul
29
Supreme Court Stays Proceedings in Bilkis Plea
July 29, 2004 | Comments Off on Supreme Court Stays Proceedings in Bilkis Plea
The Supreme Court has stayed the proceedings in the case of Bilkis Yakub Rasool until August 2. This case involves the gang-rape of 3 members and murder of 14 family members of Rasool, including her own gang rape, arising out of the 2002 Gujarat pogroms against Muslims. She had filed a petition for transfer of […]