By IANS,
Ahmedabad: In an unusual turn of events, two new public prosecutors have been appointed at a time when the Dipda Darwaja massacre case trial, in which 11 people were killed during the 2002 communal riots, is almost in the final stages of completion.
While Mukesh Brahmbhatt, one of the two, is a practising lawyer at the Ahmedabad city sessions court, Suresh Thakur, the other, was assisting J.M. Panchal when the latter was special prosecutor in the POTA cases.
The appointment is a sequel to the demand for removal of the special public prosecutor (SPP) P.R. Agrawal, appearing on behalf of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) which has probed the case. Mohammed Iqbal Baloch had moved an application before the designated court to remove Agrawal.
Baloch’s counsel Ayaz Sheikh said Friday: “When the hearing of the case is at a crucial stage, the SPP has been found wanting in the conduct of it against the accused. Earlier on May 14, we requested the SIT to relieve Agarwal from service. However, on Tuesday, we also moved a plea before the special court in this regard.”
The case is in its final stages after the testimony of around 200 witnesses was being recorded, including those of the eye witnesses to the killings.
The incident, which took place on Feb 28, 2002, at Dipda Darwaja area in Visnagar town of Mehsana district, claimed the lives of 11 minority community members.
The SIT has lodged cases against 85 accused, including former BJP MLA Prahlad Gosa and then municipal councillor Dahya Patel.
Agrawal had on May 17 written a letter to SIT head R.K. Raghavan, seeking permission to withdraw from the case. Agrawal had reportedly cited the non-cooperation of the trial judge, S.C. Srivastava, as the reason for it. He, however, subsequently withdrew the request.