SIT presses ex-top cop Tandon on Zadafia role

Tandon arrived at the SIT Office around 11:45 am and was questioned till late evening. Sources in SIT said Tandon was reportedly asked to furnish specifics of Zadafia’s role in the riots,especially in the Gulberg massacre. He was also asked about his own role in the riots and if he was under any pressure from Zadafia to give a go-ahead to the Naroda and Gulberg massacres.

Zadafia,who now heads Mahagujarat Janata Party,has sought extension till October 21 from the SIT,which is yet to reply to his request. P B Gondia also gave a miss to the summons. The SIT is likely to issue second summons to him. Gondia was a Deputy Commissioner of Police at the time of the 2002 riots.

In 2002,when the Naroda Patia massacre left 95 people dead while 69 lost their lives in the Gulberg massacre,Zadafia was Minister of State for Home whereas Tandon was the Joint Commissioner of Police (Sector 2). The SIT had summoned MK Tandon,Gordhan Zadafia and PB Gondia on Saturday to appear before SIT today.