State told to file reply on petion in 1993 Mumbai riots

Mumbai, Aug 7 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the State government to file, within two weeks, a reply affidavit on a petition filed by one of the victims of Hari Masjid police firing that took place during Mumbai riots in January 1993.

Citing Justice Shrikrishna Committee report, Farook Mohammed Kasim Mapkar moved the High Court seeking criminal prosecution against the police party led by then police sub-inspector Nikhil Kapse, who had opened fire on mamazis who had assembled in the Hari Masjid.

Despite numerous attempts, no complaint was registered against the police party.

As many as seven persons had died and seven others injured in the January 10, 1993 police firing. Mapkar has also contended in his petition that, although he was injured in the police firing, he was arrested along with 50 others in a rioting case and put behind bars.

During the detention period he suffered excruciating pain in his back because of the bullet injury, but the X-ray examination done, by the police, in KEM hospital revealed no metallic part in his body. Subsequently, after being released on bail, Mapkar underwent surgery in the Blue Cross Nursing Home at Byculla, where the doctors removed mettalic remains of the bullet from his body.

Referring to the incident of Hari Masjid firing, Justice Shrikrishna Committee had in its report said: ''The police version of the story was totally unbelievable and fabricated'' and also that, ''PSI Kapse - presently working with the economic offences wing of the Mumbai police - not only supressed facts but also fabricated records.'' While hearing Mapkar's petition, the division bench comprising Justice R M S Khandeparkar and Justice V K Tahilramani observed that the allegations, if found to be true, were of extremely serious nature and directed the State government to file a reply within two weeks clarifying its stand over allegations in the petition.

The petition will now come up for a hearing on August 21.

UNI