Security doesnt go deep enough to make witnesses feel safe

An Indian Express RTI application on the deployment of personnel and expenses incurred has gone unanswered for a month. But according to sources,there are nearly 210 riot witnesses in the state,with 80 provided PSOs. At some places,the State Reserve Police Force has been deployed for group protection.

The recent killing of Nadeem Saiyed,a witness in the Naroda Patiya case,outside his home in Juhapura is fresh in peoples minds. He rarely took his PSO along with him when he ventured out. Since the murder,the Ahmedabad Police has begun reviewing witness security.

Many have developed a camaredrie,if not a friendship,with those guarding them. When witnesses gathered at Gulberg Society on February 27 to commemorate 10 years of the Sabarmati Express fire,gun-toting men in camouflage uniforms accompanied them. Many of them broke into a smile as they saw Zakia Jafris daughter Nishrin Jafri hugging a neighbour,even joking,She looks much older than you.

Witnesses under CISF protection admit they feel safer compared to those with PSOs of the Gujarat Police.

Nasir Khan Pathan,who saw the destruction of Noorani Masjid as well as eight rapes,is among 47 witnesses of the Naroda Patiya massacre. The riots started here,leaving 98 dead. Pathan admits he has a strong bond with the CISF guards at Patiya and often invites them for lunch at his school,Iqra.

Ten years is a long time and we have become friends now. I have seen that CISF guards are more concerned about our safety. There is not a single moment that they leave us alone, he says. The PSOs,the witnesses say,spend most of their time at chowkies.

Naroda Gam,where 11 people were killed,has both CISF and SRPF security. None of its 19 witnesses has any PSOs.

Kasam Mansuri,witness in the Gulberg Society case,lives alone in the deserted complex now; he says the PSO keeps him company. He sits with me at my mattress shop. Even others who come during their shifts are nice with me. We sit,sip tea and chat for hours.

Since the Gulberg victims moved out,there is no cluster protection except to ex-MP Ahsan Jafris family members who live in Surat and are the main complainants. There are 23 witnesses in the massacre that left 69 dead.

Salim Sindhi,one of the witnesses to Jafris murder and who now lives in Shahibaug,says,Families who moved out of the riot spots are not under the consideration of authorities. We dont feel safe having just PSOs.

In Mehsana,which saw riots at Sardarpura and Dipda Darwaza on March 1,2002,Munsaf Khan Pathans is among the 22 families of Muslims who remain in Sardapura; 58 witnesses live at Satnagar.

Says Munsaf: I have a PSO who doesnt turn up for more than half a month at a go. I keep complaining to the police station but in vain. Muslims at Satnagar face constant threats from the Patels.

At Dipda Darwaza,Yusuf Khan Pathan says,There is no protection near our homes and the PSOs do not come. In Ode Anand district,Pandarwada Panchmahal and Kidiyad Sabarkantha,the SRPF provides group protection occasionally.

The Special Investigation Team,which is responsible for witness protection,says it has not received any complaints from witnesses regarding lapses in security.