2010-03-03 15:56:01

Gujarat massacre remembered by Justice Group


(March 03, 2010) Eight years after the massacre of some 1.500 people in western India’s Gujarat State, “Citizens for Justice and Peace” - CJP, a group set up in the wake of the incident to find the truth, held a prayer memorial meeting on Sunday.
In an open letter, the CJP called on national authorities and media to find out, who was behind the violence and ensure that the guilty parties be tried. In view of the trial hearings later this month, the letter examined the course of the investigation and its problems. It condemned again the Gujarat government for its opposition in recent years to an inquiry by an independent authority, even though that was the goal of the central government and the Supreme Court.
The horrible incident began on 27 February 2002 in Godhra (Gujarat), when a mob of more than 500 Muslims attacked and set fire to a train carrying Hindu pilgrims. Some 58 people died. In retaliation, Hindu groups went on a rampage and attacked residents in Muslim areas of the state. Entire families were burnt alive in their homes. Muslims fought back. Hundreds of people simply disappeared and their bodies were never found. An estimated 61,000 Muslims and 10,000 Hindus lost their homes.
In the years since the incident, the central government and the Supreme Court have set up commissions of inquiry to look into the matter. Currently, hearings are being held to find out, not only who was responsible for the carnage, but also who was behind the eventual cover-up that tried to smother the whole affair.









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