BJP demands judicial probe into riots

Panaji, July 31 (UNI) Renewing its demand for a judicial probe into the communal riots at Curchorim-Sanvordem last March following demolition of an illegal religious structure, the BJP has said that all FIRs filed in this regard should be annuled as ''they had been manipulated by the police for selfish interests''.

The issue figured in the State Legislative Assembly during Question Hour today. Later, speaking to reporters, Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar demanded that police inspector Kadam should be suspended for ''providing false information to the Chief Minister on the riots''.

The police, he alleged, had provided the Chief Minister with manipulated information to cover up for its own failures in checking the violence in which several houses, belonging to members of the minority communities, were burnt and ransacked.

He alleged that several complaints with blank dates were later filled up suitably in the first information reports. He also questioned how one could file a case related to an illegal structure when he or she did not have any locus standi on such property.

Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane told the House that a magisterial inquiry would be instituted. He said the police had registered 50 cases and had received 48 claims of compensation from the riot victims. Of these 50 cases, 48 cases had been registered under Curchorem police station and two under Quepem.

The Chief Minister, however, did not clarify whether the magisterial probe would look into the allegations made by the Opposition.

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