SIT arrests four in Naroda Patia case

AHMEDABAD: The Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested four persons and took them on remand in the Naroda Patia massacre case of the post-Godhra riots. The SIT on Wednesday obtained a five-day remand of accused to get information on those who led the mob that killed 84 persons in the locality on February 28, 2002, the day after the Sabarmati Express carnage that led to deaths of 59 passengers.The SIT sought 10 days remand of the four persons.
Magistrate GM Patel granted five days remand for Ashok Korani, Vijay Chhara, Ramesh Didawala and Kishan Mahadik for further interrogation. SIT's plea for remand was granted on grounds that it wanted to find out names of other accused persons involved in rioting at Naroda Patia. Moreover, the police also want to recover the material looted during rioting.
The city crime branch, which had investigated this case earlier, has filed a chargesheet against 46 accused persons, including Babu Bajrangi. They were arrested, but later set free on bail by Gujarat High Court.
Meanwhile, the same court granted five days further remand of six persons arrested in connection with the rioting case in Naroda Gaam. Mukesh Vyas, Rakesh Vyas, Sanjay Vyas, Bhikhbhai Patel, Mahesh Panchal and Manilal Thakor were arrested last week, and were remanded for three days on Sunday.
SIT has also tightened grip on the accused in the Gulbarg Society massacre, in which 38 persons were killed on the same day. The officers on Wednesday made fresh arrests and nabbed seven persons in this connection. They are Naran Sitaram Tank, Manish Patel, Raju Tiwari, Dashrath Patni, Nagin Patni, Lakhansinh Chudasama and Dharmesh Shukla.