Nanavati panel gets glimpse of Kalupur horror
Hindus were driven out in large-scale from Kalupur’s 11 pols in an outburst of "Islamic terrorism" during the communal riots that followed Godhra carnage, said Bhupendra Khatri, 55, ex-MLA of Kalupur while deposing before the two-member commission headed by Justice G.T. Nanavati and Justice K.G. Shah on Wednesday.

The riots had followed the Godhra incident was a terrifying experience to many Hindu families living in the pols. All of them fled to safer places and so far hardly anyone has returned, Khatri said.

Recalling the incidents, he said many Muslims were involved in throwing bombs, acid bulbs and stones that scared the Hindus into leaving.

"On April 28 2002 there were seven Muslim youths roamed armed with bombs and acid bulbs with the intention of destroying couple of Hindu houses but failed to do so as the bombs exploded prematurely and all of them died. I went to the V.S. Hospital and saw the dead bodies," Khatri said.

Out of the 21 witnesses who deposed on Wednesday a large number of them were from majority community. Women in large numbers were also seen at the commission’s office.

Although Kalupur is a Muslim dominated very few turned up to depose. Those who turned up hailed the police action.

Champa Naik, 56, a housewife from Juna Mahajanwada said, "On the night on February 27, 2002, Muslim mob from Khajuri ni pol masjid threw stones, acid bulbs and bombs at our houses and slogans from loudspeakers were heard: Islam khatare mein hain. Hinduon ko khatam kar do.(Islam is in danger. Finish off the Hindus). They also burnt down a house in our locality. We called the police and the next day the police came and arrested our children on false charges without questioning anyone. A youth named Dilip Sonpura had lost an eye when a crude bomb was thrown into his house but the police had wrongly registered a case against him."

Ex-municipal councillor and social activist, Neela Jhaveri, highlighted the indifference of police officials during her deposition. "On the very next of Godhra incident, the Muslims residing in Shahiwada area attacked the Hindu residents of Gatakiawad with stones, acid bulbs and crude bombs. Being a resident of Gatakiawad, I tried to contact the police on telephone but they informed me about lack of police staff and told me to handle the situation on my own, " she said.

Himmat Shah, 45, a resident of Patwashaheri in Kalupur area said, "Our area is predominantly a Muslim area where three pols namely Sheikh Munjal ni pol, Khiscola pol and Dhangot ni pol have large Muslim population. We had to take refuge in a nearby security camp as we were constantly harassed by them. We went back to our house after a month’s stay in the refugee camp. Soon the Shanti yatra started and so did the riots and continued for three days in our area. Police did not help us and worse we were harassed."

The deposition for Shaherkotda and Khadia police station will held on Thursday.

Republished from The Asian Age