Ayodhya demolition case posted to January 31

Rae Bareli, Jan 19 (UNI) The court today posted the December 6, 1992 Ayodhya demolition case for next hearing to January 31.

In today's hearing, a witness to the case, then Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deputy commandant R K Swami recorded his statement in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Vanshraj.

He was quizzed by defence counsel K K Sud, who represented former deputy prime minister and senior BJP leader L K Advani.

In his statement, Swami said he could not spot the magistrate during the 25-30 minutes of lathicharge, which was ordered by him on the fateful day in Ayodhya.

According to him, although 10-15 people were wounded in the lathicharge, he did not have any knowledge, if anyone was wounded or killed in firing.

Swami informed the court that although commandant J S Bisht and he possessed their service pistols, they did not use it, since several people could have been killed in the event.

In the next date of hearing, the counsels of other accused namely VHP leader Sadhvi Ritambhara and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharati would argue the case.

The eight accused in the case are L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, BJP general secretary Vinay Katiyar, Uma Bharti, VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, Vishnu Hari Dalmia, Sadhvi Ritambhara and Acharya Giriraj Kishore.

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