The lone Muslim on riot chargesheet

This week, Khokhar was arrested again, but there is no clue as to why a mob attacking Muslims in the Godhra aftermath left him alone when everyone in the area knew that he was a Muslim. There was also some talk that he provoked the mob into attacking the bakery, but it’s difficult to believe that in the mood prevailing in Gujarat in the days after Godhra that could have happened.

In her FIR lodged with the Detection of Crime Branch police station, prime witness Zaheera Sheikh had named Khokhar, alleging that he had looted material from the bakery. Zaheera said he, a truck driver, had loaded the material in a truck and taken it away even as the mob was killing those in the bakery and setting the building afire.

Vadodara Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha said: ‘‘The single FIR lodged by Zaheera accuses Yasin only of looting material.’’ And DCB officers said the chargesheet filed against Khokhar invokes sections 392 and 395 of the Indian Penal Code, relating to dacoity.

Khokhar’s wife Bhikhiben Vasava said: ‘‘All Muslims were told to leave the area. I went to my parents’ house and wasn’t in Hanuman Tekri when the bakery was burnt. Next day, I escorted Yasin to safety. We went to my aunt’s in Majipura village in Tilakwada and returned after four weeks.’’