05, Nov 2009

November 5,  2009
The DNA

Gulbarg witness hopes to get
justice

Imtiaz Khan Pathan had seen seven of his family killed in the
Gulbarg Society massacre Roshan Kumar

Imitiaz Khan Pathan, an
eyewitness in the 2002 Gulbarg massacre case, who had deposed before
judge BU Joshi of fast track court, is hopeful that he would be given
justice.

Pathan in his statement
before court said that while his house was under attack by rioters,
Congress leader Ahesan Jafri had made a call to chief minister
Narendra Modi for help only to be abused by the latter.

Pathan who works as an
electrician, is one of the survivors of the Gulbarg massacre and saw
seven members from his family including his mother, grandmother,
sister-in-law, uncle, aunt and others being butchered by rioters.
Talking to DNA Pathan said, “I saw death from close quarters. I am
hopeful that I will get justice.” Pathan left his Gulbarg Society
house after the day of the incident. At present he lives in Juhapura
with his wife, two kids, brother, and father.

He has been provided
security for the past seven years and has not been bothered by the
administration. However, around six month back Pathan said he received
a threat call on his mobile.”I informed the concerned authorities
about the call,” said Pathan. Earlier, Pathan had deposed before the
fast track court that on February 28, 2002 when the society was under
attack by the mob he like several others took shelter at Jafri’s
house.
Pathan in his deposition stated that he went to Jafri to ask for help
as the police were not coming to their rescue. He said Jafri said he
would call Modi for help. When Pathan asked the Congress leader what
the CM said, Jafri said that instead of providing help, Modi abused
him. Pathan in his deposition statement also stated that on the night
of February 28, police took the riot affected people to Dariya Khan
Gumbat relief camp.
After few days there was an announcement in the relief camp that those
who had died in the riots would be buried at Kalandari Masjid in
Rakhiyal. But when the riot affected reached the area, they found them
to be decomposed and beyond recognition. Despite this, at the
Kalandari Masjid he identified his grandmother Khaureninisha and uncle
Anwar Khan Pathan.