’02 riots: Technical snag delays deposition of 2 ex-UK envoys

The court had issued summons to former deputy British high commissioners to India — Ian Reakes and Howard Parkinson – asking them to depose through video-conferencing in connection with the case.

The summons were issued after the British government granted permission to the court to examine the envoys in the case last year.

The examination of former British envoys was taking place on application of original complainant and prime witness in the case,Imran Dawood,a British national,who had survived the attack on him and others near Prantij in Sabarkantha in 2002.

Three British nationals — Saeed Dawood,Mohammed Aswat Nallabhai and Shakil Dawood — and their driver Yusuf Sulaiman were burnt to death on NH 8 in Sabarkantha on February 28,2002. Shakil’s body was not found. After the passage of seven years,he was declared dead.

Imran was badly injured in the incident,but he was saved by a patrolling police vehicle. He later lodged an FIR. Depositions of Imran and four other witnesses have already been recorded by the court during the trial. In his application,Imran had sought examination of Reakes on the ground that he was present with the then investigating officer during collections of ashes and bones of the bodies of victims.

He wanted statement of Parkinson to be recorded by the court because the officer had got an anonymous letter informing about the incident,along with names of accused persons.