[IMC-Editorial] [India Thinkers Net]Riot witness battered

[India Thinkers Net at Zinester.com]

The Telegraph, October 22, 2003

Riot witness battered

BASANT RAWAT
Ahmedabad, Oct. 21: Rehman Shakoorbhai Saiyed
dared to name his children's killers and got
battered black and blue for it.

A group of 20 hoodlums, armed with hockey sticks
and swords, last night descended on Faizal Park
Society and thrashed him for having told the
Nanavati Commission the names of the culprits who
burnt three of his children alive in Naroda-Patia
during the Godhra riots.

All his terrified fellow residents could do was
switch off lights, bolt doors and pray for their
lives as the goons attacked and bludgeoned the
40-year-old. Done, they brandished their swords
and did the rounds of the society in Vatva where
nearly 45 riot-stricken families of Naroda-Patia
have been rehabilitated.

Saiyed is one of the four key witnesses of the
carnage who deposed before the commission probing
the riots earlier this month. Having seen his
children burn alive, he named one Bhawani Sinh
and Goodu as the main culprits and also slammed
police for instigating trouble during the riots.

Saiyed said Akram - the leader of the gang that
targeted him 20 days after his deposition - was a
local goon.

"Ever since I came to stay here 14 months ago, I
have never had any problem with him. So, he must
have been hired by someone to attack me - someone
who is not happy with my statements," he said.

A Faizal Park resident, Khan Mohammed, who saw
last night's attack, said the goons showed up
only after ensuring that the constable who
protects Saiyed had left for dinner around 7.30.
First, the three persons sitting with Saiyed were
told to scoot. Then the hoodlums began beating
him up, screaming that he was paying for having
dared to name names.

"I was too scared, so I left and went to my home
and switched off the lights. But I could see
Akram, Salim, Firoz and Imran dragging him and
then attacking him. Saiyed has several injuries
with swords and hockey sticks," Khan, who later
took Saiyed to hospital and the police station,
said.

Khan said the goons had made arrangements to
ensure that Saiyed did not reach Vatva police
station to file a first information report. They
were seen loitering around on the main road for
quite a while after they finished with Saiyed, he
said.

Having sensed their motive, Khan took Saiyed on
his scooter to Haveli police station, nearly 15
km from Faizal Park. But they were told they
could file an FIR only at Vatva police station.
Even 24 hours after the incident, no arrests have
been made. Investigating officer B.R. Machi said:
"Investigations are on. Senior officers are
discussing the matter.''

Sheba George, a social activist working with
Naroda-Patia riot victims, said the attack on
Rehman was an attempt to terrorise witnesses
against speaking up. "This is a new tactic by the
police to deter witnesses from exposing their
questionable role during the riots," she said.


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