Bones found by SIT in Gujarat

Ahmedabad, May 15: Bones suspected to be of victims of post-Godhra riots were found by a Supreme Court-appointed investigation team at Ode village in Anand district of Gujarat during an excavation of the place, sources involved in the operation said.

The bones were found by SIT set up by the Supreme Court at Piruwali Bhagol where a house was burnt down during the 2002 riots, the sources added.

The SIT was constituted by the apex court to probe the Godhra train burning and post-Godhra riot cases. The SIT has been conducting a search operation for a couple of days at three sites at Ode village where about 25 people were killed by rioters six years ago.

According to sources, the bones were packed in plastic bags and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar for testing.

Sources said that ever since the riots, the villagers have been saying that some people were burnt alive in the house.

The sites, where the SIT is conducting the excavation, are Piruwali Bhagol, a step-well in Ode main bazar and a dry well located in Malav Bhagol area, they added.

According to sources, the search is being conducted by local authorities under the supervision of SIT member Shivanand Jha.

Heavy duty pumps are being used to empty the step-well in the main bazar.

"We have been pumping out water for three days now. But still there is lot of water to be pumped out," said a district official involved in the search operation.

The SIT, entrusted with the task of investigating the Godhra and post-Godhra riot cases, have till date made one arrest in the Gulbarg Society case where 38 persons, including Congress’ ex-MP Ehasan Jafry, were killed.

The SIT has formed nine teams, each headed by an officer of the rank of deputy superintendent of police, to assist in the probe.

The members of SIT visited the sites of riots and familiarised themselves with the sequence of events that occurred during the violence.

The team also visited the site where S6 coach of the Sabarmati Express train was burnt near Godhra railway station and had also inspected the coach.

The SIT was asked to submit its final report within three months of its formation by the apex court.

Former Central Bureau of Investigation chief R.K. Raghvan is heading the SIT while former DGP of Uttar Pradesh A. Sathpathy is a member of the team along with three IPS officers of Gujarat — Geetha Johri, Ashish Bhatia and Shivanand Jha. (PTI)