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CJP |
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Gujarat Riots |
Crime Against Humanity
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Press Releases
__________________________________________________February 28, 2005Residents of the Gulberg Society, in Meghaninagar Ahmedabad, including Mrs Zakiabehn Jaffri, wife of the former member of Parliament, Ahsan Jaffri have served notice on representatives of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh [RSS] and the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] claiming damages of approximates Rs 64 crores in all for the attack on Gulberg society that claimed more than 45 lives on February 28, 2002. Damages have been claimed for loss of life, property, torture, pain and trauma caused to them when mobs unleashed terror due to the bandh call given by the VHP and supported by the RSS and the BJP on February 28, 2002 during which mayhem and carnage resulted.
The notices were served by registered post on February 26 and 27, 2005. The entire legal action is being supported by the Citizens of Justice and Peace, Mumbai. The notices have been sent by advocates MrS.M. Vohra and Mr Irshad Mansuri.The heirs and occupants of the society in who’s name the notices have been served include survivors of bungalows and eight apartments in the society. Notices have been served on behalf of Smt Zakiabehn Jaffri, Kasambhai Mansuri, Salimbhai Norr Mohd Sandhi, Farid Abu Bakr Pathan, Feroz Mohd Gulzar Mohd Pathan, Tasadduk Husain Surroli, Mohammed Iqbal Yusufbhai Patel, Rashidabehn Ayubbhai Kothiwala, Taiyabli Hussain Khambhati, Yunusbhai Patel, Mohd Sharif Nasir Hussain Shaikh, Rupabehn Darabhai Nodi, Shri Fakir Mohammed Mohammed Saiyed, Yusufbhai Pathan, Bhurabhai Bande Ali Shaikh, Safdar Hussain Ankleshwaria, Sairabano Jalaluddin Shaikh, Salimbhai Abdulbhai Mansuri, and Zaitunbibi AnwarPathan.
The Citizens for Justice and Peace has also alerted the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) that extra care and protection should be taken of all these survivors –many of whom are eye witnesses to the carnage –given the fact that they are all still residents of Gujarat and that they have served these notices to these organization for damages. A copy of this letter alerting the CISF to the issue of security of these witnesses has also been sent to the Gujarat Police through it’s Director General of Police. The SC had ordered protection by central forces to all eye witnesses into the major carnages that took place in Gujarat including the victims of the Godhra mass arson, the Gulberg, Naroda Gaon, Naroda Patiya, Sardarpura and Ode carnages. The trial into the Gulberg carnage was stayed by the Supreme Court of India on November 21, 2003 after eye witnesses had, with the assistance of the CJP filed affidavits explaining the circumstances under which investigations were carrying on into these cases within Gujarat.
The notice served by Mrs Zakia Jaffri states that “…because of the “Gujarat Bandh” call issued by you on 28-2-2002 some people …. attacked the Gulberg Society and therefore the mob had looted the movable articles from the house of my above named client and burnt alive several people including husband of my client namely late Mr. Ahsan Jafri.. In the process my client has suffered loss of Rs. 30 lac., due to dacoity of the movable articles and destroying the house of my client by torching the same. This gruesome incident has taken place because of the ‘Bandh Call’ issued by you. This loss of wealth and lives has occurred due to individual act of yours. The pain and mental agony undergone by my client is due to the incidents that occurred due to the band call issued by you. The approximate loss incurred by my client is about Rs. 70 lac and therefore my client is liable to sue you for the compensation of Rs. 70 lacs; however before filing the suit the present statutory notice is being issued in accordance with the law.” Mr Vijay Tendulkar, President Ms Teesta Setalvad, Secretary |
