Jun
2
Gujarat Government Considers Bill to Allow Continued Detention of POTA Detainees
June 2, 2004 | Comments Off on Gujarat Government Considers Bill to Allow Continued Detention of POTA Detainees
The Gujarat government is currently considering a bill to allow the continued detention of the accused in the Godhra train massacre, which preceded the 2002 pogroms against Muslims. The accused are currently held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, a draconian law that contains vague definitions of membership and support for “terrorist organizations,” lacks pre-trial […]
Jun
2
Best Bakery Update
June 2, 2004 | Comments Off on Best Bakery Update
In the Best Bakery case, the Maharasthra Law Minister Govindrao Adik has said that the Gujarat government must appoint the public prosecutor for the retrial in Maharasthra. The Best Bakery case, involving the burning deaths of 12 Muslims during the 2002 Gujarat pogroms against Muslims, was transferred to Maharasthra by an order of the Supreme […]
May
26
Suicides in Kashmir Draw Notice of NHRC
May 26, 2004 | Comments Off on Suicides in Kashmir Draw Notice of NHRC
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken notice of the extraordinary number of suicides and attempted suicides in the Kashmir valley: It has called for a report from the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary with a request to furnish within six weeks, the number of suicides and attempted suicides in the Valley from 1999-2000 […]
May
26
Gujarat Carnage Witnesses Granted Protection
May 26, 2004 | Comments Off on Gujarat Carnage Witnesses Granted Protection
After three senior members of the security forces visited Gujarat, a 100-strong team from the Central Industrial Security Force has been deployed throughout the state to protect witnesses in cases pending against perpetrators of the 2002 pogroms against Muslims: The CISF personnel have been divided into five teams of 20 each and deployed in Dahod, Himmatnagar, […]
May
11
Judge Appointed for Best Bakery; Bail Hearing for Bilkis Accused Adjourned
May 11, 2004 | Comments Off on Judge Appointed for Best Bakery; Bail Hearing for Bilkis Accused Adjourned
The Bombay High Court named the judge who will conduct the retrial of the Best Bakery case, to be held in Maharashtra according to the Supreme Court’s April 12 order: The High Court issued a notification on [Additional Sessions Judge A.M.] Thipsay’s appointment on Friday. It also fixed a time frame to complete the hearing by December 2004… […]
May
8
Court Rejects Cops’ Petition in Bilkis Case
May 8, 2004 | Comments Off on Court Rejects Cops’ Petition in Bilkis Case
The Gujarat High Court rejected the petition of two senior officers, challenging the charges framed against them in the Bilkis Bano case, revolving around the gang rape of Bilkis and at least three relatives, and the murder of 14 relatives during the 2002 Gujarat pogroms against Muslims. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had charged […]
May
8
Supreme Court Admonishes Modi Government
May 8, 2004 | Comments Off on Supreme Court Admonishes Modi Government
The Supreme Court dismissed the petition and criticized the Modi government for its petition seeking review of the Supreme Court’s April 12 order transferring the Best Bakery case outside of Gujarat to Maharashtra. According to the Court: “[T]he modification application shows the arrogance of the State Government. It is refusing to accept even the order of […]
May
6
Gujarat Case Developments: Retired Chief Justice Accuses Gujarat of Colluding with Accused
May 6, 2004 | Comments Off on Gujarat Case Developments: Retired Chief Justice Accuses Gujarat of Colluding with Accused
The Supreme Court has asked Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others to respond to the allegations raised in the suit filed by the British family charging them with genocide, crimes against humanity, and torture. In other developments, two former policemen charged in the Bilkis Bano gangrape and murder case surrendered yesterday. A Chief Judicial […]
May
3
British Family Files Suit Charging Modi with Genocide
May 3, 2004 | Comments Off on British Family Files Suit Charging Modi with Genocide
On April 30, the Dawood family living in Britain filed a civil case in a Gujarat court against Chief Minister Narendra Modi and thirteen other individuals, including senior government officials, for genocide, crimes against humanity and torture: In February 2002, whilst returning from the Taj Mahal, the vehicle carrying the four British tourists, was stopped […]
May
1
Bail Hearing in Bilkis Case
May 1, 2004 | Comments Off on Bail Hearing in Bilkis Case
The bail hearing for the 14 accused in jail began today in the Bilkis Rasool case, and will resume on May 6. The defense counsel objected to the recording of statements of Bilkis and her husband by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Rasool was gang-raped and witnessed the murder of 14 family members, three […]