Burning questions, no answers

Bawa said it was clear that nobody had entered S6 from the platform doors before it was set on fire on February 27, 2002. However, during his cross-examination by advocate Mukul Sinha, Bawa said he was not aware if the vestibule between S6 and S7 or the doors on the other side were used to enter the coach.

Besides, he was not aware that around 2,500 kar sevaks were returning from Ayodhya, nor were intelligence reports from the Uttar Pradesh government on their movement.

Bawa, who had submitted the first chargesheet in the case, was also questioned on the train stopping for the first time after it started from Godhra station when somebody pulled the chain. After the train had moved a few metres, it was halted again, stoned and compartments set on fire.

‘‘During the course of investigations, it was found that the Sabarmati Express was stopped by chain-pulling as several kar sevaks could not board the train at Godhra station,’’ Bawa said. ‘‘But when the train halted for the second time, it was not due to chain-pulling. It appears that the hose pipe was cut and the train stopped immediately.’’

Bawa said only 11 passengers among the 59 killed in the S6 coach were bonafide passengers. The bodies of those travelling without reservation were identified on the basis of DNA evidence and statements of relatives. Bawa said according to the driver’s statement, the train reached Godhra at 7.40 am and left at 7.45 am. He, however, was not sure who pulled the chain to halt the train at the station.

‘‘I am not sure from which side firefighters had begun dousing the flames and do not know, if (any), how many doors of the ill-fated S6 coach were open when it was torched,’’ he said. No witness, however, had seen anybody pouring inflammable liquid in the coach. Bawa told the commission the Forensic Science Laboratory report said the fire in S6 originated from near the toilet.

Bawa was involved in the investigation of the train carnage from March 1 to May 27, 2002, and is the first senior police officer to be cross-examined by the panel.