BJP MLA DISTRIBUTED TRISHULS BEFORE GODHRA INCIDENT

In a significant development, Sabirmiya Akumiya, a witness in the Sardarpura massacre has told the Special Court hearing Sardarpura riot case of Mehsana district of Gujarat that some BJP leaders had visited the village much before the Godhra incident, indicating a pre-planned conspiracy leading to the massacre. Sabirmiya deposed this before the special judge S.C. Srivastava on October 27 during the examination-in-chief, said the special public prosecutor in the case Suresh Shah. More than 30 persons belonging to minority community were killed and 20 others sustained serious injuries in the tiny village of Sardarpura on March 1, 2002. Police had arrested 76 persons in this regard. Sabirmiya, who used to work in the Sardarpura’s waterworks at the time of incident, was present at the spot when the mob started gathering, but when the killing began he fled to save his life. Sabirmiya had identified 17 persons from the mob before the court earlier. When asked about the riots, he told the court that the then BJP MLA from Godhra, Haresh Bhatt had addressed a gathering in Sardarpura in February 2002, just 15 days before the Godhra incident. Sabirmiya has specifically told the Court, and earlier made a statement before the special investigation team (SIT), that MLA Bhatt had distributed tridents to the villagers who committed the reprehensible crime. The revelation has once again raised doubts on the entire 2002 episode.