11Apr 2002
Rajesh Ramachandran
The Times of India
New Delhi: Just three armed constables fired four rounds and dispersed a thousand-strong mob that torched the s-6 coach of sabarmati express at the Godhra station on February 26. This is one of the facts highlighted by the report of Baroda Railway Protection Force Divisional Security Commissioner SN Pandey.
More importantly, the report cited no proof and made no reference to a ‘‘conspiracy’’ behind the attack. The report was sent to the Railway Board last month. Pandey confirmed that very few RPF constables were involved in tackling the situation: only four were on duty at the platform and one was unarmed.
His report does not refer to the presence of any Government Railway Police force men, and says, ‘‘but for the prompt firing and timely rescue by RPF, casualties would have been more as the mob was trying to burn other coaches.’’ So, could the incident have been averted if there was proper deployment of RPF or if the RPF had opened fire before the mob set the coach on fire?
Pandey’s report clearly suggests that the RPF constables reached the train only after the coach was set on fire: ‘‘...the train again stopped at 7.55 am... and this time a crowd of about 1,000 rushed towards the train, pelting stones. Passengers closed doors and windows... the mob sprinkled diesel/petrol on coach no. 93498 (s-6) and set it on fire. Armed RPF team rushed... and fired 04 rounds... (which) led to the dispersal of mob.’’
Another incident narrated in the report suggests that had the RPF men opened fire as the mob was collecting, the Godhra carnage would not have occurred. Soon after coach S-6 was put on fire, the passengers of other coaches got off the train. Soon, 40 armed RPF men, railway officials and doctors reached Godhra and decided to move the stranded passengers. The mob gathered again and proceeded towards the passengers, brandishing swords and sticks. ‘‘the DSC ordered RPF men around him to open fire and 19 rounds were fired by RPF on this occasion. Police and GRP also fired on this crowd... this firing led to the permanent dispersal of the crowd.’’
Rajesh Ramachandran
The Times of India
New Delhi: Just three armed constables fired four rounds and dispersed a thousand-strong mob that torched the s-6 coach of sabarmati express at the Godhra station on February 26. This is one of the facts highlighted by the report of Baroda Railway Protection Force Divisional Security Commissioner SN Pandey.
More importantly, the report cited no proof and made no reference to a ‘‘conspiracy’’ behind the attack. The report was sent to the Railway Board last month. Pandey confirmed that very few RPF constables were involved in tackling the situation: only four were on duty at the platform and one was unarmed.
His report does not refer to the presence of any Government Railway Police force men, and says, ‘‘but for the prompt firing and timely rescue by RPF, casualties would have been more as the mob was trying to burn other coaches.’’ So, could the incident have been averted if there was proper deployment of RPF or if the RPF had opened fire before the mob set the coach on fire?
Pandey’s report clearly suggests that the RPF constables reached the train only after the coach was set on fire: ‘‘...the train again stopped at 7.55 am... and this time a crowd of about 1,000 rushed towards the train, pelting stones. Passengers closed doors and windows... the mob sprinkled diesel/petrol on coach no. 93498 (s-6) and set it on fire. Armed RPF team rushed... and fired 04 rounds... (which) led to the dispersal of mob.’’
Another incident narrated in the report suggests that had the RPF men opened fire as the mob was collecting, the Godhra carnage would not have occurred. Soon after coach S-6 was put on fire, the passengers of other coaches got off the train. Soon, 40 armed RPF men, railway officials and doctors reached Godhra and decided to move the stranded passengers. The mob gathered again and proceeded towards the passengers, brandishing swords and sticks. ‘‘the DSC ordered RPF men around him to open fire and 19 rounds were fired by RPF on this occasion. Police and GRP also fired on this crowd... this firing led to the permanent dispersal of the crowd.’’
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