‘Protect key witnesses in Gujarat riots’

Responding to this order, Solicitor General Kriti Raval submitted today that there were 1499 witnesses in the nine riot cases and it would be impossible for central forces to provide security to all.

As the Gujarat Government counsel, Additional Solicitor General Mukul Rohtagi, pointed out that security had been provided to most of the witnesses, Raval said it was a sensitive issue as law and order is a State subject.

Reiterating that the Centre was not averse to providing security through central forces to key witnesses in the riot cases, he sought three weeks time for their identification. However, the Bench comprising Chief Justice V N Khare, Justice S B Sinha and Justice S H Kapadia asked him to report to the court on the issue by April 2.

The court was acting on a petition filed by Citizens for Justice and Peace which recounted the fear and insecurity among the witnesses. The Bench also noted that certain activists like Teesta Setalvad, who were helping the riot victims through their NGO, needed such protection as well.