Mata Ramabai firing case: Hearing adjourned till Sept 18

Mumbai, Aug 16 (UNI) A local court today adjourned till September 18, the hearing into the Mata Ramabai (Ghatkopar), firing case as the prosecution had failed to supply certain documents to the defence.

Defence counsel Rajendra Shirodkar told the court that they were yet to receive certain documents on which the prosecution had relied upon.

Additional session judge B D Khatavkar directed the prosecution to supply a copy of the Gundewari Commission report, map of the site and official documents on the basis of which FIR was registered against the accused.

Special public prosecutor V Pradhan sought time to supply the copies. The court granted the request and adjourned the matter till September 18.

On July 11, 1997, riots had erupted at Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar in Ghatkopar following defacement of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue.

To control the violent mob, State Reserve Police (SRP) sub-inpector Manohar Kadam had given firing order to his men in which ten persons were killed.

Kadam was subsequently prosecuted under Section 304 (II) of the Indian Penal Code which pertains to culpable homicide and not amounting to murder. However, families of the victims have moved the court demanding that Kadam be prosecuted on murder charges.

UNI