Gujarat Govt Appoints 7 Public Prosecutors For 2002 Riots

gujaratIn a significant move, the Gujarat government has named the Special Public Prosecutors (SPP) in seven of the nine cases being investigated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Supreme Court.

The government also made it clear that the public prosecutors for the two remaining cases, the Gulberg Society massacre in Ahmedabad and the incident at Ode near Anand, would be appointed in the coming days.

Apart from this, the government has also announced the names of the eight advocates who will be acting as Assistant Public Prosecutors to the seven SPPs.

The chief public prosecutor appointed for the Godhra train carnage and Naroda-Patiya massacre would be assisted by two assistants each.

As far as the Godhra train carnage case is concerned, senior criminal advocate J M Panchal has been appointed as the SPP. Panchal is to be helped by two advocates, Alpesh Kogje and Narendra Prajapati.

Regarding the Naroda Patiya case, the government has named Akhil Desai as its SPP. He would be assisted by Gaurang Vyas.

Acting on the directions, the Gujarat High Court has already constituted the fast track courts - four in Ahmedabad, two each in Anand and Mehsana and one in Himmatnagar in Sabarkantha district for the trial of the nine relatively very gruesome riot incidents being probed afresh by the SIT.

It should be noted here that the Supreme Court appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to inquire the role of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others in connection with the 2002 riots last month.

The court proceedings are likely to start in full swing after the summer vacation.