Gujarat riots: former minister, two cops summoned

GANDHINAGAR - The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing key cases of the 2002 communal riots has summoned former minister of state for home Gordhan Jhadapia and two police officers, M.K.Tandon and P.B.Gondia, official sources said Saturday.

The three have been asked to appear before the SIT on Monday. Sources said that the SIT in its report to the Supreme Court had hinted at their involvement in some manner in the riots at Naroda Patia and Naroda Gam in Ahmedabad.

After the Supreme Court granted the SIT more time to probe the role of the three, Jhadapia had communicated to the SIT his willingness to become a witness and testify again. He has already been questioned by the SIT thrice.

No sooner did Jhadapia’s offer become public, that he has been under extreme pressure to retract his offer.

Jhadapia, who was minister of state for home in the Narendra Modi government during the riots, later fell out with him and led a splinter group which walked out to form their own regional outfit.

Of the two Indian Police Service officers, Tandon has since retired.