Mass
graves and missing lives
The challenges thrown up for India, post-Godhra 2002, are
fundamental. Are the politically powerful, even if they are organisers of
mass murder and rape, immune from the law? The acknowledgement of a crime
is the essential foundation on which victims begin the process of healing.
In Gujarat, victims have been denied even that recognition.
The absence of any signs of remorse from the perpetrators
has reduced what was a premeditated and gruesome carnage into a sorry
spectacle. Every few months we are jolted by newspaper headlines and
"breaking news" on television screens. For a few hours or a few days we
are reminded once again of the carnage that was, but the neo-fascist
functionary remains unrelenting, unrepentant. Gujarat continues to
function as if it lives outside the writ and mandate of the Indian
Constitution.
Official figures and police records reveal that of the 413
persons who were classified as ‘missing’ (bodies untraceable) after the
2002 carnage, the remains of 228 are still ‘not traced’. Victim survivors
of the mass massacres, who filed missing person complaints with the local
police in Anand, Mehsana, Ahmedabad and Panchmahal in 2002 and 2003, have
said on oath that the remains of their lost relatives lie buried in
illegal dumps or mass graves. Those mercilessly butchered were even denied
the dignity of a decent burial.
Panchmahal was one of Gujarat’s many districts targeted by
armed mobs between February 28 and March 3, 2002. Muslims of Pandharwada
village were targeted for slaughter at two different locations on March 1,
2002 (CC, "Genocide-Gujarat 2002", was the first to document this
massacre). Between March 2002 and December 2005, victim survivors of
Pandharwada made oral and written applications to the deputy inspector
general (DIG), Vadodara, the collector, Panchmahal, the deputy
superintendent (DySP), Godhra, the deputy collector, Lunawada and the
mamlatdar, Khanpur, urging that the remains of their lost ones be
traced and returned. In December 2005, after nearly four years of frigid
silence, they went digging for the remains themselves. They sought the
media as an ally and Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) for moral and
legal support.
On December 27, 2005 the relatives uncovered bodies of
lost ones that had been dumped in the forest wasteland near the Paanam
river outside Lunawada town. They approached the Gujarat High Court. The
Gujarat High Court ordered the human remains to be sent for DNA testing
and analysis to an independent laboratory in Hyderabad under strict
supervision of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Justice CK
Buch’s order observed that if after analysis even a single body remained
unidentified, a fresh case existed and scope for a de novo qua or
fresh investigation was made out.
The CBI submitted the analysis to the Gujarat High Court
in May 2006. Victim survivors were denied a copy of this report despite
repeated pleas while the Gujarat state accessed a copy immediately.
On December 6, 2006, the state appeared to be in an unholy hurry to get
the matter disposed of. The victim survivors, who had approached the court
in the first place, were not given the report and hence had no chance to
reply. Despite this, the report did become public. Samples from eight body
remains appeared to match the DNA samples taken from relatives of the
Pandharwada massacre victims while 11 body remains were still
unidentified. The matter was taken up for final hearing just two days
later.
Given the findings of the Hyderabad laboratory, there was
clear scope for a fresh CBI investigation as observed by Justice Buch
earlier. Predictably, the Gujarat government adamantly opposed the court’s
ruling of December 29, 2005 while counsel for the CBI remained unmoved by
the pleas of victim survivors a year later. Instead, the CBI indirectly
supported the Gujarat government’s stand, a fact recorded by the judge in
his oral order.
The advocate for the victim survivors argued cogently and
at length that the entire matter of illegally dumping these bodies needed
to be investigated afresh by the CBI.
In the year since the mass grave was found, the victim
survivors and co-petitioners had filed 600 pages of affidavits to
substantiate their claims. For example, it was pointed out that the
skeletal remains of the son of petitioner, Ameenabehn Rasool, were found
bearing tattered bits of the same clothes in which he had been killed.
This indicated that the police had not followed post-mortem and other
routine procedures. It was also pointed out that the Gujarat government’s
bias was evident from the fact that while the unidentified remains of
Godhra arson survivors were kept in the public morgue for five months (and
public notices for identification sent out repeatedly), these victims from
the Muslim minority were unceremoniously dumped in wastelands near the
Paanam river within three days of their killing. A 250-acre Muslim
graveyard in Lunawada town lies barely a few kilometres away.
State officials could have handed over the bodies, even
if unidentified, to local clergy to perform the last rites. Not
only was this not done, victim survivors and human rights defenders who
have assisted the legal struggle since December 2005 have been hounded by
the local police, with a false FIR (first information report) being made
out against them. They have all had to seek anticipatory bail. The case is
pending against them even today although the Gujarat High Court has stayed
registration of the FIR.
Even after the DNA sampling has confirmed that eight of
the body remains of the dead matched the survivors of the mass carnage in
Pandharwada, the victims have been denied dignified burial rites.
Sadly, the struggle for justice in Gujarat has been
reduced to a legal battle for constitutional governance by victim
survivors and some civil society actors. The political class that chants
the secularism mantra to win elections has not merely kept a discreet
distance. When it comes to punishment of the guilty of 2002, the United
Progressive Alliance government at the Centre has chosen to forget its
2004 electoral promise. Do political considerations make it uncomfortable
for them to play a part in the struggle for justice? Or, with the blood of
past carnages on their own hands, do they sleep easier if the perpetrators
remain unchallenged?
Pandharwada mass graves case: A brief
March 1, 2002
Mass massacre in Pandharwada in Panchmahal district, registered as CR
11/2002. Over 40 persons were massacred in two brutal incidents in this
village. The accused were acquitted in October 2002. After this hasty
acquittal and following rebukes by the Supreme Court in the Best Bakery
case, the state government has made token attempts to reopen the
investigation and trial.
March 2002-December 2005
Victim survivors of the Pandharwada massacre
make repeated oral and written applications addressed to the DIG, Vadodara,
the collector, Panchmahal district, the DySP, Godhra, the deputy
collector, Lunawada and the mamlatdar, Khanpur. They even approach
the medical officer, Panchal, for recovery of dead bodies. All their
efforts are in vain.
December 27, 2005
In the third or fourth desperate search for the remains of their loved
ones, relatives unearth skulls and bones in a ravine near Paanam river,
outside Lunawada town. TV channels present do a live telecast of the
entire episode. Contacted by victims for legal support, Rais Khan, Gujarat
field coordinator of CJP, is present at the spot, while CJP secretary,
Teesta Setalvad informs the Gujarat police about the discovery of the
bodies.
December 28, 2005
Police inspector Puwar from the Lunawada police station goes to the
house of Gulam Kharadi to threaten and abuse him. His wife, Jebunissa
Gulam Kharadi files a complaint at the Lunawada police station against the
inspector.
December 28, 2005
Ameenabehn Habib Rasool, a victim survivor who lost her son in the
bloody massacre, files a petition along with CJP (Spl. Crim. Appln.
1875/2005) praying for the transfer of the entire investigation to the
CBI.
In the affidavit annexed to the petition and dated
December 29, 2005, Ameenabehn Habib Rasool, who saw her 24-year-old son
being slaughtered in front of her eyes, states that she was shocked to
find that when confronted with the mass graves issue, DGP AK Bhargava of
the Gujarat police threatened penal action against victim survivors
instead of showing concern and remorse over the appalling developments.
Collector DH Brahmbhatt had a similar response, saying
that ‘the anguished search of relatives for the remains of their lost ones
was an illegal act". There were, however, several contradictions in the
administration’s stance. On December 27, Bhargava told the media that the
bodies could be related to the Pandharwada massacre; on the very next day
he contradicted himself, saying the bodies could be related to an incident
that took place prior to February 28, 2002. But on the same day the
collector and the SP of the district, JK Bhatt, were categorical that the
bodies were related to the Pandharwada massacre.
Expressing loss of faith in the Gujarat police, the
petition also pointed out that Lunawada, a town only a few kilometres from
Pandharwada (where all the survivors of the Pandharwada massacre are
rehabilitated), had a 250-acre burial ground, large portions of which are
unused. Why were those killed not given a dignified burial at the Lunawada
graveyard? Why were they dumped surreptitiously into a mass grave?
Despite the fact that the post-mortem reports in most of
the cases contained names of the deceased in detail, the state had the
gall to claim that no family member had ever claimed the bodies.
Further proof of the state government’s lies comes from
the inquest panchnamas and post-mortem reports. In identifying the
dead, the police were clearly concerned with little other than observing
the formalities. The dead bodies were shown to have been identified by
Mukundbhai Bhikhabhai Sheikh, Shankar R. Harijan, etc, persons who were
not even distant relatives of any of the deceased.
The body remains unearthed on December 27, 2005 were found
bearing traces of the same clothes that the victims were wearing at the
time of the assault. This is what made it easier for close relatives i.e.
witnesses to identify the bodies, a process that was telecast by the
electronic media in real time. This can only mean that the dead bodies did
not undergo proper post-mortem procedures. If post-mortem procedures had
been properly followed, the bodies would then have been wrapped in white
cloth and the clothes worn by the deceased would have been collected and
recorded through a separate panchnama. The post-mortem reports
produced by the prosecution along with the charge sheet were apparently
manipulated so that the weapons used by the accused persons could not be
matched to the injuries of the deceased.
December 29, 2005
The Gujarat High Court passes an order transferring the investigation
to CBI.
December 30-31, 2005
The CBI issues summons to the victim survivors to be present at the
Godhra Circuit House for blood samples to be taken so that DNA tests may
then be carried out. CJP provided the CBI with a list of the victim
survivors and their relationship with the deceased. Summons were received
and signed by victims before January 1, 2006.
January 2, 2006
At 1.30 a.m., the Lunawada police file an FIR
(CR No. 1 3/2006 with Khanpur police station) against the victim survivors
and representatives of CJP under sections 192, 193, 201, 120 B, 295 A and
297 of the Indian Penal Code. The team from the TV news channel, Sahara
Samay, which was present throughout and telecast, live, the entire
incident of digging and recovery of bodies, was deliberately excluded from
the list of ‘offenders to alleged offences named in the FIR’.
Interestingly, the FIR, which was lodged by a sanitation inspector,
invokes sections that in normal circumstances require state government
sanction. And the victim survivors who were forced to resort to a
desperate search for the remains of their near and dear ones by a callous
administration now stand accused of hurting religious sentiments. Whose
religious sentiments?
January 5-7, 2006
A piquant situation arises when victim survivors come to the Godhra
Circuit House, terrified because the state of Gujarat has accused them of
committing serious crimes when all they were "guilty" of was an agonised
search for the remains of their lost ones. CJP seeks and receives
assurances from the collector and the SP of Panchmahal that the victim
survivors would not be arrested when they arrived to give blood samples.
January 9, 2006
The state government affidavit contradicts itself. Para 4 of its
affidavit dated January 9 states that some bodies were unidentified. (In
another sworn affidavit filed later, it claims that all the dead bodies
were identified.) The state government also claims that relatives and
others had identified bodies and then let them remain in a pit without the
dignity of last rites. The Gujarat government obviously has no qualms
stating falsehood upon falsehood in sworn affidavits. Later, in para 8 of
the affidavit the government claims that the bodies were buried because
nobody had come forward to claim them!
January 10, 2006
Mehboobbhai Rasoolbhai Chauhan, a victim
survivor, and all others accused in the FIR along with CJP representatives
(Rais Khan and Teesta Setalvad), approach the Sessions Court, Panchmahal,
situated at Godhra, for anticipatory bail. Bail is granted. What’s more,
in his order the judge observes that the said FIR was, prima facie, filed
to pre-empt the order of the high court and deter the CBI from
investigating the offence pertaining to the skeletons. The judge
also observes that the Lunawada police’s action in registering an FIR was
clearly "a counterblast" to the matters pending before the Gujarat High
Court.
Thereafter, the ‘accused’ in the FIR approach the police
several times (as is the norm in Gujarat) but the police does not formally
arrest and then release them on regular bail as is required under the law.
This is a deliberate act so as not to complete the formalities
necessitated by the court order of January 10. The state police thus keeps
a sword hanging over the heads of Pandharwada’s victim survivors.
January 12, 2006
Some 40 persons from the local unit of the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)
stage a ‘morcha’ to the collector’s office, asserting that ‘Hindu’
sentiments have been hurt and therefore Rais Khan and Teesta Setalvad
should not be allowed inside Lunawada. The CJP secretary visits Lunawada
and Pandharwada anyway, to stand by the survivors.
February 1, 2006
Maksudabehn Yusufbhai Shaikh, widow of murdered
Yusufbhai Ahmedbhai Shaikh, files an application before the police
sub-inspector, Khanpur police station, stating that she has information
that her husband’s body has been buried illegally and without last rites
at Lavanagam. She therefore appeals that the body be exhumed in the
presence of her advocate and panchas (witnesses), and she be
allowed to bury the body in accordance with Muslim rites. The same police
that was screaming itself hoarse about the ‘illegal’ act committed on
December 27, 2005, simply ignores her application. Copies of the said
application were given to the DySP, Panchmahal, the collector and even the
CBI, but to no avail.
February 7, 2006
CJP files an affidavit (in Spl. Crim. Appln.
1875/2005) pointing out that in the course of arguments before the Gujarat
High Court on December 29, 2005, none of the so-called offences made out
in CR No 1 3/2006 by the Lunawada police station had been committed. This
clearly showed that the FIR was a desperate afterthought meant to
adversely influence investigations. The affidavit also details the
repeated harassment of Rais Khan by the police in Ahmedabad.
February 7, 2006
The state of Gujarat files an application (Misc. Crim. Appln.
1613/2006) for cancellation of bail of those named in FIR CR 1 3/2006. The
court rejects this application.
February 10, 2006
Affidavits are submitted by petitioner Ameenabehn Rasool and CJP that
include details of the procedure for burial of unidentified and missing
persons as per the Gujarat Municipalities Act and the police norms and
rules as stated by them in their earlier affidavit. None of this has been
countered by the state of Gujarat.
Victim survivors have made it plain that the game plan of
the state of Gujarat is to target them, and other eyewitnesses and
citizens groups whom they have approached for legal help. Rather
than showing any compassion or remorse, the administration and the
government’s sole aim is to treat aggrieved citizens as criminals. The
spectre of non-bailable arrest warrants continues to hang over them even
today. Video recordings of the events of December 27, 2005, which have
been placed before the court, substantively prove the petitioners’
contention that there was no instigation by outsiders when the mass grave
was dug up. It was a spontaneous act by anguished relatives.
February 21, 2006
In its rejoinder affidavit the state government indulges in further
falsehoods and claims that Maksudabehn Yusufbhai Shaikh had refused to
allow the exhuming of her husband’s body.
March 2, 2006
Maksudabehn Shaikh files an affidavit in the main Pandharwada matter (Spl.
Crim. Appln. 1875/2005) pointing out shocking attempts by the Gujarat
police to doctor records. She charges the Gujarat police with fabricating
evidence. This justifies the petitioners’ claim that the Gujarat state
police simply cannot be trusted to handle an investigation against
itself in a fair and impartial manner.
In her affidavit, Maksudabehn states
that:
Ø She made applications on February 1 and 6, 2006 to the
pranth officer, Lunawada, the collector, Panchmahal at Godhra, the
SP, Panchmahal, the DySP, Lunawada, the PI, Lunawada, etc asking that her
husband’s body be exhumed. The application requested that after following
legal procedure, the same should be handed over to the CBI for samples for
DNA analysis after which the dead body should be handed over to her for a
proper burial as per Muslim law.
Ø The dead body of her husband, Yusufbhai Ahmedbhai Shaikh,
was not handed over either to her or her mother-in-law, either on March 5,
2002 or on any other day, by any police, and she had not affixed her thumb
impression acknowledging receipt of the body, as claimed by the state. She
also states that the police was trying to make out a false case against
her and was refusing to process her application to exhume her deceased
husband’s body.
Ø The police claim that they handed over the dead body of
her husband to her on March 5, 2002 is absolutely false and an
irresponsible statement. Had the body been handed over to her as claimed,
it would have been buried according to proper religious rites, in the
Muslim graveyard, by Muslim men from the local community. It is very clear
that nothing of this sort has happened. It appears therefore that the
police was suppressing the truth.
Ø If her husband’s body had been handed over to her on
March 5, 2002, then where was the need for her mother-in-law to make a
written application for the same on March 19, 2002? (This was reported in
the Gujarati daily, Gujarat Today, at the time.) Moreover, if the
body had been obtained and buried, why would the family make repeated
applications to the collectors of Godhra and neighbouring districts
after March 5, 2002, inquiring whether Yusufbhai was alive or dead.
Why did the police not respond to her applications at the relevant time?
Ø When the police carried out the inquest panchnama
as claimed on March 5, 2002, she was not called to the site nor was she
present. However, her name and presence has been falsely recorded therein.
No thumb impression or signature of hers can be seen on this inquest
panchnama. The police inquest panchnama is said to have been
carried out between 4.00 and 4.45 p.m. on March 5, 2002. It has also been
stated that the police had seen the dead body at 2.30 p.m. on the same
day, after which they sent it to the medical officer in Pandharwada.
Ø If the so-called inquest panchnama was carried
out between 4.00 and 4.45 p.m. on March 5, 2002, how does that tally with
the police’s claim that the post-mortem was performed on the same day, at
virtually the same time i.e. 4.30 p.m.?
From the material and facts mentioned above, Maksudabehn
Shaikh concludes that the police’s claim that they had handed over her
husband’s dead body to her on March 5, 2002, or any other day, was a total
lie.
March, 2006
Victim survivors and CJP file 600 pages of detailed affidavits
contradicting, point by point, all claims made by the state of Gujarat in
their affidavits. Ameenabehn Habib Rasool in her rejoinder to rejoinder
affidavit dated March 2006 states that:
Ø The dead bodies were buried on the banks of the river ‘Paanam’.
Ø Through their own investigations, the petitioners learnt
that the said land has been classified as ‘forest land’ in village
records. This proves that the local administration ought not to have
buried the dead bodies there. Instead, they should have been handed over
to the survivors of the deceased.
Ø Having learnt of the illegal dumping site from the
sanitation inspector, victim survivors then informed other villagers and
soon thereafter the skeletons were unearthed, in the presence of the
electronic media. It was only because of the electronic media’s exposure
that the police could not tamper with the skeletons, the evidence. The
local administration was caught on the wrong foot, especially because the
skeletons were unearthed from forest land. Thus the family members took a
wise decision in not providing prior information to the relevant
authorities, all of which are controlled by the state government.
Ø The CBI should be asked to immediately seize or take
charge of the case diaries and the weekly diaries of the police so that
the role of the state police and the local administration can be
scrutinised. As it is, the state police has had enough opportunity to
‘tamper’ with the evidence.
Ø The role of the state government in not protecting its
citizens and in defending the accused has repeatedly come to light in this
and several other instances.
March 2006
Petitioners Mehboobbhai Rasoolbhai Chauhan and Rasoolbhai Ashrafbhai
Sheikh pray for a transfer of the entire investigation of the alleged
offences to the CBI.
April 5, 2006
The Gujarat High Court refuses to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to
victim survivors and CJP representatives by the sessions court at Godhra
earlier.
April 17, 2006
Despite the Gujarat High Court order of April 5, 2006, the Gujarat
police illegally obtains non-bailable warrants against victim survivors
and representatives of CJP by misleading the court.
April 20, 2006
The Gujarat High Court issues notice to the Gujarat government on the
petitioners’ plea for stay and transfer of the FIR-related investigations
to the CBI, and posts the case for urgent hearing on April 28, 2006.
Meanwhile, no action can be taken by the Gujarat police in respect of the
investigation.
The case now proceeds in the district sessions court,
slowly.
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