Post-Godhra: Cops shut half the cases

• Of the 4,252 post-Godhra cases registered across the state, 2,108 have been closed. z In closing 2,032 cases, police have said that the complaint is correct, but the accused have not been found. z In 55 cases, police have said that the facts stated in the complaint are true but no offence was found to have been committed. z Only in 21 closed cases has the police found the complaint to be false in part or in full. z In many of these closed cases, it was police who initiated the complaint and filed FIR.

Among prominent cases in which the prosecution hasn’t appealed against acquittal are:

• Fourteen Muslims hiding in the fields of Kidiad were massacred on March 3, 2002. A case was filed at Malpur police station, Sabarkantha district. More than 30 accused were acquitted as prosecution failed to establish their involvement.

• At Pandarwada, nine Muslims were killed on March 1, 2002. Among those accused — and later acquitted— was Kalubhai Maliwada, a local BJP leader. A year after the acquittal, the prosecution is yet to file appeal. Maliwada is also accused in another case in which more than 80 people were burnt alive in two vehicles .

And some cases closed by police are:

• Five survivors of the Naroda Patiya massacre had filed an FIR on March 18, 2002, that among those who led the mob that attacked their homes were VHP leader Dr Jaideep Patel and local MLA Maya Kodnani. Police informed the court on September 9, 2002, that the main complainant had stated that he no longer remembers Patel and Kodnani’s presence in the mob.

• Himmatnagar PS inspector P.I. Chavda had filed an FIR on March 3, 2002, that a mob of 1,500 had set fire to several Muslim houses. One man was killed. The case was closed on September 23, 2002, on the ground that the accused could not be found.

• On March 1, 2002, Vasad police filed an FIR that a mob had attacked Muslims , killing one. The case was closed on August 29, 2002, on the ground that the accused hadn’t been identified.