2002 Gujarat riots: Special judge visits Gulberg Society, inspects Jafri house

The society had been abandoned after the riots. Ahead of Desai’s visit, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation cleaned the premises using bleaching powder.

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Amid heavy police presence, Desai, who was surrounded by lawyers representing the prosecution, the defence and the victims, spent nearly 45 minutes in the society, located in Chamanpura area under Meghaningar police station. He went to Jafri’s house and inspected the areas mentioned in the court records — the entrance, the first floor and the terrace.

“It is not a liveable place anymore, but the AMC sweepers cleaned up everything ahead of judge saheb’s visit. I saw such a mehfil (gathering) here for the first time in many years,” said Rafiq Mansuri, a riot survivor whose family was the last to abandon the society and shift to Naroda Patiya.

Mansuri and his father, who run a small cotton factory nearby, still use their old house as a godown. A picture of Rafiq’s mother, who was killed in the violence, hangs at the entrance. Rafiq said he lost one of his eyes in the violence.

Media persons were barred by the court from entering the society during Desai’s visit. Lawyers accompanying him said he inquired about the details of the incident and the events described in the case records. Earlier in the day, during the proceedings, defence lawyer Abhay Bharadwaj questioned the authenticity of key witnesses while arguing on the issue of Jafri allegedly firing a gun. Bharadwaj argued that the witnesses did not mention anything about Jafri opening fire on the mob.

The next hearing is due next week.