Private report on Gujarat riots

The Concerned Citizens' Tribunal, which conducted an inquiry into the happenings in Gujarat from February 27, 2002, will be releasing a voluminous report today in Ahmedabad.

Headed by Justice V. Krishna Iyer, retired Judge of the Supreme Court, the private Tribunal was convened by a group of citizens drawn from various walks of life. Its release has coincided with hectic pre-election preparations by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Apart from recording the testimonies of over 1,500 victims, the Tribunal heard the evidence presented by representatives of the media, academics, representatives of the Vishwa Samvad Kendra, politicians, police, government officials and others.

The findings of the report establishes the connivance of the state government in the riots that took place in the aftermath of the burning of 58 Hindus in a train in Godhra.

With high level functionaries deposing before the Tribunal, it reveals meticulous planning to target Muslims and belies the whole question of the "action-reaction" theory to the Godhra incident.

The Tribunal examined witnesses from Ahmedabad, Abasana, Himmatnagar, Kadi, Visnagar, Kalol, Halol, Pandharwada, Eral and Godhra, apart from hearing the testimonies of witnesses from Dahod, Bharuch, Ankleshwar and Vadodara.