When F-word is FLAW

A top police officer, who was in charge of intelligence during the Gujarat riots, has said he had informed the State Home Department about h...

A top police officer, who was in charge of intelligence during the Gujarat riots, has said he had informed the State Home Department about how policemen subverted basic procedure while filing riot cases. In a 171-page affidavit filed before the riots commission, R.B. Sreekumar, then additional DGP, said he had submitted a report on how the minority community had 8216;8216;developed a severe grudge against the criminal justice system and extreme loss of faith in the state administration, particularly the police.8217;8217;

Sreekumar is now additional DG in charge of police reforms. His report, dated April 24, 2004, and submitted to then additional chief secretary Home Ashok Narayan, has been appended to the affidavit.

The report, the affidavit says, informed the government of the following:

8226; Police officers had used 8216;8216;pressure and strong persuasive tactics8217;8217; to dissuade complainants and 8216;8216;avoid naming of specific accused persons.8217;8217;

8226; Police officers were not fair in recording FIRs. They lodged complaints on behalf of victims so they could favour the accused. Besides, value of evidence was weakened and loopholes provided by clubbing different incidents in one FIR.

8226; Most accused got released immediately because of the partisan stance taken by public prosecutors. Also, police made little effort to seek remand.

8226; When prominent Hindu leaders arrested for involvement in riots were released on bail, 8216;8216;local leaders of the ruling party made arrangements for giving a heroes8217; felicitation to them.8217;8217;

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The report also pointed out that pamphlets and handbills distributed by leaders of both communities contributed to the violence. It warned victims were migrating from riot-torn areas and forming new ghettos that could become recruitment ground for terrorist organisations.

Sreekumar8217;s affidavit says that, in many cases, junior officers refused to follow seniors8217; orders or instructions.

Contrary to the official line, the affidavit says, from February 7, 2002, all district police chiefs and senior officers had been kept posted on movement of karsevaks to Ayodhya. But the affidavit says state police did not receive information about their return journey from Ayodhya.