Cops now claim crowd fired first

Two constables from Malegaon police station told the riots probe panel that a mob opened fire at them on the night of October 26, 2001, requiring retaliatory firing.

Constable Hiraman Sakharam Mahale informed the one-man inquiry commission of retired High Court Justice K.N. Patil that police opened fire only after some unknown people opened fire at them.

Mahale said he was part of a patrolling party surveying the area on October 26 when riots broke out. Police officials saw a mob damaging shops and vehicles.

Though police warned the mob to disperse, Mahale said, they continued to indulge in arson and began throwing stones at the police party, injuring some of them.