A Special Court in Ahmedabad allowed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing afresh some of the post-Godhra riot cases, to take voice samples of three accused in the Naroda Patiya case, who were video-taped during a sting operation by Tehelka magazine in 2007. The Supreme Court-appointed SIT had last month filed an application seeking permission to take voice spectrograph of Babu Bajrangi, Suresh Langdo and Prakash Rathod, accused of rioting at Naroda Patiya massacre. The SIT petition said they wanted to cross-check claims of the journalist who carried out the sting operation. The operation using a hidden camera caught the trio describing how they carried out the attack along with other leaders of the saffron brigade and politicians, and how they were given free hand by the police. The probe agency has already recorded the statement of Tehelka reporter Ashish Khaitan, who carried out the sting. SIT had filed chargesheet against over 60 persons in the case.
On the other hand the Gujarat High Court has ordered further probe in a 2002 riot case from Kalol village in Panchmahal district. The HC order came in the wake of a revision application filed by five individuals and the state government challenging the order of the Godhra Sessions Court. The Sessions Court had rejected an application seeking further investigation in the case. The five petitioners have been identified as Abdussattar Tasiya, Siddiq Tasiya, Sikandar Tasiya, Sabbir Luhar and Isahak Tasiya.