On Godhra, Home quotes POTA panel

The Home Ministry further said that the special public prosecutor had placed the “opinion” of the POTA Review Committee before the special court saying no case under POTA was made against any of the accused charged with burning down a train compartment at Godhra in 2002.

After hearing both the sides and the “evidence made available to us, this committee is of the considered view that this incident had taken place on the date, time and place as alleged by the prosecution but certainly not as a part of conspiracy envisaged under the provisions of POTA,” the Jain POTA Review Committee said in its opinion.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had, at the UPA’s Coordination Committee meeting on Sunday, promised the Left parties of ‘‘strong’’ action to ensure the implementation of the recommendation of the POTA Review Committee.

The statement of today, which essentially states that all cases under POTA relating to the Godhra Train carnage is ‘‘deemed to have been withdrawn,’’ is a fallout of this.

Cat wants Gujarat reply on Sreekumar’s plea

AHMEDABAD: THE Central Administrative Tribunal has asked the Gujarat government to reply by July 14 to a notice issued after police official R B Sreekumar alleged he was being victimised for “not toeing the government line” during investigations into the post-Godhra carnage. In his petition filed in March, Sreekumar said he was being denied promotion because he refused to toe Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s line during the investigation.