 Gujarat Additional Director General of Police (Police Reforms) RB Sreekumar has filed a second affidavit before the Nanavati-Shah Commission probing the Gujarat carnage in 2002, a move that is bound to turn many faces red. In the affidavit, Sreekumar, who was the head of the intelligence apparatus during the communal riots, has recounted what happened after 30 April 2002. Giving details of his meetings with Supercop KPS Gill, who was appointed adviser to the Modi government, on 4 May, Sreekumar claims he and the then Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Maniram had disagreed with the then Ahmedabad Police Commissioner PC Pandey and the then Director General of Police K Chakravarti’s observations that “the situation was normal”. The 32-page document discloses how the Modi government tried to stymie the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and its chief. To substantiate his points, Sreekumar has attached the controversial security reports, which were given to then Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh in August 2002. It is believed Lyngdoh took the decision to delay elections on the basis of the report prepared by Sreekumar. The damning disclosures were: “The state government and the police did not take necessary actions to stop communal frenzy. Only sketchy FIRs were lodged. Victims were discouraged from filing complaints. They were told to avoid naming the attackers. Most accused were released because the prosecutor was partisan. The prosecutors did precious little to seek remand of the accused. When VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders were released on bail, local BJP leaders were busy felicitating them.” In his first meeting with Gill, Sreekumar, supported by Maniram, had argued that unless the existing field officers, including Commissioner Pandey, were removed and new officers brought in, the riots could not be controlled. In the affidavit, he goes on to say Gill agreed with him and shifted many senior officials, including the Commissioner, out of riot-torn Ahmedabad. He had a one-to-one meeting with Gill on 10 May in which he described how the Bajrang Dal and VHP leaders were putting pressure on Muslims to withdraw the FIRs against them. He disclosed how the home department and police were ignoring his suggestions and IB reports. Sreekumar has also submitted a series of IB messages, which were sent to senior field officials in May 2002. However, when contacted, Sreekumar, the only officer to file a second affidavit, refused to comment. Senior advocate Mukul Sinha said the facts brought out in the two affidavits prove the allegations that the Chief Minister and police officers played an active role in immobilising the security forces during the riots. Meanwhile, state DGP AK Bhargav has asked all officials to cooperate with the commission. “Yes, I have directed not only senior but all who held executive posts to file their affidavit before the commission,” he says. (Courtesy: Tehelka.com)
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