Why did cop in charge not alert control room as 89 died in Naroda?

‘‘I did not give the message to the control room,’’ Maisurwala said, ‘‘as we were given instructions that messages should not be forwarded as jammed lines could further disrupt communication.’’

He, however, did not say who issued these instructions.

During cross-examination by advocate Mukul Sinha, Maisurwala, whose name also figures as an accused in one of the complaints registered in Naroda, said he informed then Assistant Commissioner of Police about the incident at 7.45 pm on February 28. But was ‘‘too occupied with rescue operations’’ and did not inform other superiors.

Maisurwala, who has filed two affidavits before the inquiry panel, said police complaints were registered against Naroda BJP MLA Maya Kodnani and VHP leader Jaideep Patel after victims — then staying at Shah Alam relief camp — alleged that the two had provoked Hindus in communally sensitive Naroda-Patiya.

He added that he wasn’t aware whether names of the two leaders had been removed from the complaint as the cases were handed over to the Crime Branch in March 2002. The officer also said that he had seen Babu Bajrangi, a Bajrang Dal leader, talking to the mob in Naroda area on Feb 28. Maisurwala said it was difficult for the police and the 24 State Reserve Police personnel to ‘‘control the mob of about 20,000 people.’’ Speaking on Kausarbano case, he said he had ‘‘not received any official complaint,’’ but he had mentioned it in his affidavit.

Kausarbano’s relatives, while deposing, had alleged that nine-month pregnant Kausar’s stomach was slit, the foetus removed and mother and child killed by the mob. However, Maisurwala claimed he submitted the post-mortem report of the victim which showed that pregnant Kausar was burnt alive but her foetus wasn’t removed.

Maisurwala said he had seen the body of Ranjit Vanjhara near Naroda society. Ranjit, who was killed and his eyes were gouged out, was one reason why Hindus went on the rampage, the officer said.

He failed to explain why police officials on the road just outside the Naroda-Patiya colony did not notice what was going on in the lanes. ‘‘I have named five persons as being part of the mob. But since I did not see those who attacked Naroda-Patiya and since none of the survivors named anybody, it’s tough to be specific,’’ he added.