Newly appointed Justice Mehta of Nanavati Commission visits Godhra

Godhra, May 18 (UNI) With a view to have a first-hand impression of the 2002 Godhra train carnage, newly appointed retired judge Justice Akshay Mehta of Nanavati Commission today visited the Godhra Railway Station where 58 Karsevaks were burnt alive on February 27, 2002.

It was the first site visit of Justice Mehta, who was appointed by Gujarat Government on April 7, 2008, as a member of the Nanavati Commission, probing Godhra train carnage and post-Godhra riots in place of Justice K G Shah, who died recently.

Justice Mehta, who was also accompanied by Chairman of the Commission Justice Nanavati, visited all the three important places associated with the riots -- Godhra Railway Station, Cabinet-A, where the train was stopped, and S-6 coach, in which 58 Karsevaks were burnt alive.

The two-member inquiry Commission were on the site from 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs today acquainting Justice Mehta of the ghastly incident, which triggered the almost four-month-long communal riots in Gujarat killing several thousands.

The Commission was constituted by Gujarat government in 2002 after the post-Godhra riots.

Initially Justice K G Shah was appointed on the Commission to probe Godhra train carnage. Later, the state government appointed Justice G T Nanavati as the head of the Commission and also widened the scope of inquiry by including post-Godhra riot cases.

After the demise of Justice K G Shah, Justice Mehta was appointed to the Commission.

Justice Mehta has served as a Judge in the Gujarat High Court for seven years and retired in December 2007.

The Commission has been conducting the hearing in the matter for the last six years.

UNI XR-MP SR AKJ US1625