Sabarmati suspect: cops, crowd face off in Godhra

Days ahead of two years of the attack on the Sabarmati Express which led to riots across Gujarat, tension has returned to Godhra. Six person...

Days ahead of two years of the attack on the Sabarmati Express which led to riots across Gujarat, tension has returned to Godhra. Six persons, including a police sub-inspector and two constables, were injured today in clashes with a mob which stopped police from spiriting away a Godhra train attack accused from a mosque.

It all began when police was alerted that Salim Panwala, one of the main accused in the train attack, was at Umar Masjid in Saat Pul area. Two men in plainclothes went to the mosque, even offered prayers with Panwala and then pounced on him. As they tried to take him away, Panwala began screaming for help.

Policemen standing a little distance away rushed to the mosque but came under heavy stoning from residents of the area. In the confusion, Panwala managed to escape.

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Police lobbed teargas shells and then fired seven rounds to scatter the mob. Residents later alleged that the police misbehaved with them.

SP (Panchamhals) Piyush Patel said as many as 35 people had been arrested for attacking the police and more would be rounded up. He said the situation was under control and additional forces had been deployed in the affected area. Local residents claimed the police, while searching for Panwala, misbehaved with them and damaged household goods after forcing their way into homes. Among those who complained bitterly was Hussaina Farooq Jiteli, six months pregnant. ‘‘They hit me on my abdomen when I resisted my husband’s arrest,’’ Hussaina alleged.

Sixty five-year-old Kulsumbibi, who lives near the mosque, said: ‘‘My two sons had just returned from the mosque when police entered our house and started beating them up. They have taken away my sons.’’

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