Gujarat riots accused held in London

Ahmedabad, Oct 11: An accused in a case related to post-Godhra riot at Ode village in Anand district who had escaped to UK by jumping his bail has been detained by London police and would be brought back by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) within a week, Gujarat police said today.

"Samir Patel, an accused in Ode-riot case who absconded while on bail has been detained by London police," Gandhinagar Local Crime Branch's inspector and SIT member A K Parmar said. "A red corner notice was issued against him after his location was traced to London.

Three SIT officials including me will leave for London tomorrow to take him in custody. After completing deportation formalities we will be able to bring him back by October 16-17," Parmar said.

Two other accused in the case, Natu Patel and Rakesh Patel, are still at large. On March 1, 2002, 23 people -- nine women, as many children and five men -- of the Muslim community were burnt alive in a house in Pirwali Bhagol area of Ode village by a mob of over 1,500 people.

Next day, four more persons were killed in another locality of the village. A special court on April 9, 2012, convicted 23 persons. However Samir Patel's trial was not complete as he had gone absconding before that. This was one of the nine riots cases which were investigated by the Supreme Court-appointed SIT.

PTI