JSM asked Commission to reject government CAM theory

Ahmedabad, Apr 24 (UNI) Dr Mukul Sinha of Jan Sangharsh Manch, a rights body, today submitted before the Nanavati Shah Commission that the affidavit made by the Gujarat government with regard to the stoppage of the train with the imaginary lifting of the 'CAM' from outside should be rejected.

In an affidavit filed before the Commission on April 11, which is probing the February 2002 carnage and the riots that broke in its aftermath, the government said vacuum brakes could be activated from outside by raising the 'CAM', a lever, quoting the deposition of Senior Section Engineer Gangaram Rathod.

In reply to the affidavit, Dr Sinha contended the most important piece of the evidence which, according to him, the prosecution had ''deliberately'' not brought to the notice of the Commission was contained in the earlier statement of Mr Gangaram in the chargesheet papers.

He told the Commission that Mr Gangaram had stated that in the coach S2, three wooden handles, which are to be found above the seat Nos 1, 9 and 46, were missing. From this fact, he said the chain pulling was done from inside S2 coach.

Dr Sinha said the government had been all along maintaining that brakes were opened from outside by rotating a disc. ''After we pointed out that it was not possible in the modified design adopted by the Railways since early 90s, they now talk about CAM. A brake can be operated from outside in many ways - the government is now trying to concoct evidence that does not exist,'' he claimed.

Hence, the JSM prayed that the application made by the government should be rejected since the prayers made therein have no relation to any evidence.

UNI