As Gulberg trial nears end,judge wants to visit massacre site on October 2 for spot inspection

The special fast-track court conducting the trial of the 2002 Gulberg Society massacre case is expected to visit the scene of crime on October 2.

The special fast-track court conducting the trial of the 2002 Gulberg Society massacre case is expected to visit the scene of crime on October 2. The court passed an order to this effect on Monday under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Special Judge B U Joshi has been conducting the trial of the case in which 69 people were killed by a mob at Gulberg Society in the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad on February 28,2002. Sixty-seven persons are facing trial in the case. The court has,so far,examined 331 witnesses. Only two eye-witnesses are yet to be examined by the court. One of them,Zakia Jafri,the widow of slain Congress MP Ehsan Jafri,is likely to be the last witness to be examined on Wednesday.

In its order,the court observed that for the proper evaluation of the evidence,an spot inspection is must since different witnesses had been watching the incidents from different angles.

The judge has asked four members of the designated court to accompany him to the Gulberg Society for the inspection during which he has also allowed the lawyers and victim-witnesses to remain present. The victims too have been asked to remain present in their respective houses so that they could co-operate with the court.

The designated court has asked the lawyers not to suggest anything to it during the inspection unless asked for. It has directed the prosecuting agency,Special Investigation Team (SIT),to arrange for photographers. SIT has also been asked to make security arrangement for the process.

Media has been allowed restricted entry during the inspection with a direction to remain away from the audible distance from spot of inspection. Media has also been restricted to publish photographs of court staff during the proposed visit. People associated with the proceedings have also been prohibited to give interviews about the inspection.

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crime