Actions Taken by Narendra Modi to Control the Riots following Godhra Train Massacre Author(s) : Madhu Purnima Kishwar 58 train passengers, including women and little children, were charred to death on 27th February 2002 when their compartments were set on fire just as the train moved out of Godhra railway station. The first incidents of retaliatory mob violence were reported on February 28. They continued in full intensity on 1st and 2nd March. By 3rd March situation was under control. After that small incidents were engineered in a few pockets but they were put down firmly. I will deal with the how and why of those incidents in another article. For the moment, I am presenting a very brief overview of the actions taken by Narendra Modi to control the riots. Normally, record of actions claimed to have been taken by governments during riots is not trustworthy because no proper inquiries are held to authenticate those claims. In the case of Gujarat, the record of actions can be taken seriously for the following reasons: • Inquiry Commissions and SIT investigations have been conducted under full glare of a media which cannot be accused of being friendly towards Modi government. Moreover, SIT investigations were monitored by the Supreme Court. • State government cannot fudge facts about the deployment of army and para- military forces because of elaborate protocols involved in the movement of troops. • The number of bullets fired, pattern of arrests—how many Hindus and how many Muslims held under preventive detention laws—can’t be fudged when high level inquiries by central agencies are going on. If these facts had proven to be wrong, Narendra Modi could not have escaped indictment by the Supreme Court monitored Special investigative Team or the Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Nanavati in 2005 or the High Court of Gujarat. The following fact sheet provides only a brief glimpse of actions taken to quell riots. I will be posting a more detailed fact sheet soon. On 27/02/2002: • CM reaches Godhra at about 4.30 p.m. and goes to inspect the rail bogies which had been set on fire and issues the following official statements: • The government has taken a serious note of this….This government will not allow anyone involved to go scot-free and is taking fool-proof steps…This is mass violence. This government is always trying to bring about communal harmony and is in favour of preventing any communal flare-up.’…This inhuman terrorist crime of collective /mass violence is not an incident of communal violence.” (Translated from Gujarati, source: CM Press release). • The Government will not be lacking in discharging duty...No efforts will be spared in ensuring law and order.” (Source: CM Press release, Godhra). In the press meet on 27th itself, the Chief Minister said that though the Godhra incident is shocking and sad, people should not take law into their hands and government will ensure law and order by taking necessary steps. • Imposition of curfew in Godhra and other potential trouble spots from the day of Godhra massacre; • First alert message of 27.02.2002 from the Home Department covered the need to take precautionary measures including adequate police bandobast and preventive measures including instructions to impose prohibitory orders in disturbed areas. • All the Police Commissioners, District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police directed to remain in the headquarters and monitor the situation. • In order to cope with the emerging law and order situation during the Gujarat Bandh call given by BJP, VHP and others to protest the massacre at Godhra railway station, request was made to the Government of India to provide 10 companies of Central Para Military Forces in addition to 4 companies of Rapid Action Force. • Large scale preventive arrests of Hindus and Muslims starting February 27, the day of Godhra incident. On the day of Godhra massacre, 217 preventive arrests made, out of which 137 were Hindus and 80 were Muslims. This despite the fact that several BJP leaders, including some who were part of Modi’s own Cabinet, were actively fomenting trouble; • The entire police force of 6000 is deployed in sensitive areas of Gujarat on the very first day. • 62 Companies of State Reserve Police Force and Central Para Military Forces companies deployed on February; Out of 62, 58 were of SRPF and 4 were of CPMF. • After his return from Godhra, Chief Minister calls a late night meeting of senior officials at his residence at 11 p.m to review the law and order situation and assess the preparedness of the government in dealing with it. Modi asks his officials to explore the possibility of army deployment. Enquiries made with the local army revealed that no force was available for deployment, as all the units were deployed on the Gujarat border with Pakistan where a war like situation existed following the Pak inspired terror attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001. At such a point, the Centre alone could take decision regarding Army deployment. On 28/02/2002 • Gujarat Government requests neighbouring states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to send additional police force. Digvijay Singh as CM of Madhya Pradesh and Ashok Gehlot as CM of Rajasthan decline the request saying they have no forces to spare. Maharashtra CM, Vilasrao Deshmukh sent some police force which was returned to them as soon as the situation came under control. • Modi makes a telephonic request to the then Home Minister, L.K Advani for deployment of the Army. • As a follow up, Gujarat government sends a fax to the Secretary Ministry of Defence at 2.30 p.m. seeking deployment of the Army. • Due to tense situation at the Border and the on-going Operation Prakram, the Army cannot be withdrawn from the Indo- Pak border of Gujarat. Therefore, army units have to be airlifted from other states. • CM issued instructions to provide safe escort to the 6000 Haj Pilgrims returning to the State. This was followed by further measures in later days. All the 6000 Haj pilgrims from 400 different towns and villages of Gujarat reached their homes safely under police escort on 20.03.2002. • Message from Home Department to all the concerned officers to round up anti social elements and known communal elements under preventive laws. • George Fernandes, the then Defence Minister, arrives in Gandhi Nagar and meets the CM at 10.30 p.m. • The first aircraft carrying army personnel lands at Ahmedabad by midnight of 28th February. • 13 Columns of Army deployed to assist the State Civil administration. Statements by Narendra Modi on 28.02.2002: The following was broadcast across Gujarat on Doordarshan at 7 pm and repeatedly broadcasted thereafter: • I share the grief of the people of Gujarat but the solution does not lie in non-peace, non-restraint or venting out of anger. • I pray with folded hands that this is the time for maintaining peace; the need is to control the nerves. • This is the time for maintaining peace. It is necessary to maintain self-control. We are determined to punish those who are guilty and they will not be spared.” • He also requested the people of Gujarat to help Gujarat by maintaining peace. • Will you not help to save Gujarat? Come and help Government. Government is requesting for help. Government is seeking your help to punish the guilty through law.” • He also added that it was the collective responsibility of all to ensure that the innocent are not affected: “Amidst your anger I pray you to display the unique characteristic of Gujarat-of showing restraint and maintaining peace during adversities. Come, let us serve Gujarat through peace and self-control,and let us strengthen the arms of law”… • The entire country shares our grief but the responsibility to maintain peace and restraint is ours. I understand your anger, your pain but in the interest of Gujarat, to see that its future doesn’t get ruined, to ensure that Gujarat doesn’t get a blot on its face, it is necessary that five crore Gujarati keep calm and exercise self-restraint… • It is our responsibility that the lives of innocent are not put at stake…Ver verthi shamtu nathi” (Hatred is never won over by hatred. My fervent appeal to the people of the state is that the time has come to strengthen the hands of law and maintain peace. I pray to the people that they will help in bringing those involved in violence to book.”(Ahmedabad / dt.28/2/2002) ON 01.03.2002 • Chief Secretary issued orders to use force including Shoot- at- Sight on 1stMarch, that is, within a day after the riots broke out on 28th February. • Army deployed on the ground within 20 hours of the start of violence despite troops having to be airlifted. • The Defence Minister personally supervised the deployment of the army which commenced on the morning of 1st. • The deployment was facilitated on a war footing by the government. The District Magistrate Ahmedabad provided 6 buses, 9 trucks and 15 jeeps for use by the army by 2:30 a.m. By 3 p.m. 26 red flags were also provided for the army. During the day 39 other vehicles were also provided to the army personnel. • 18 mobile phones were provided to the army on 1st March itself to facilitate better communication. Liaison officers and escort officers from the police were also provided to the army by the morning of 1st March • By 11 a.m. the Army reached some of the affected areas in the city i.e Paldi, Juhapura, Vejalpur, Shahpur, Bapunagar,Rakhial, Gomtipur, Meghaninagar, Draiapur, Kalupur, Naroda and Dania Limba. In Ahmedabad total of 9 columns of Army were deployed on 1.03.2002 • A total of 131 vehicles were provided to the army for their movement. • In addition 7 Executive magistrates were provided to the army by 7:30 a.m followed by three more. A total of 32 Executive magistrates were provided to the army because the army cannot shoot without a magistrate’s orders. Statements by Narendra Modi on 1.03.2002: • “Orders for shoot-at-sight have been issued to deal strictly with the people involved in violence”. • “Gujarat’s peace and tranquillity will not be allowed to be disturbed by anti-social elements intent on exploiting the people’s anger.” • “Restoring peace is our topmost priority. We will act strongly against those disturbing the peace.”( CM Press release) • “Verify before printing/broadcasting –do not spread false news.”( Source:CM Press release) • “Kriya pratikriya ki chain chal rahi hai. Hum chhahate hain ki na kriya ho aur na pratikriya” (A chain of action-reaction has set in. We wish to see an end to both action and reaction) Zee TV Interview with Sudhir Chowdhary , Gandhinagar. SIT Investigation established that Zee TV deleted the last line to give the impression that Modi was justifying “ reaction” by way of mob violence to avenge the killings of Godhra. (More detailed report on this later) • “Do not mention names of communities as per established press ethics and practices –to stop the spreading of violence.” ( CM Press release) • “ Do not show visuals of the dead people to avoid emotional flare ups leading to violence” ( Source: CM Press release) • Appeal for peace” ( Source: CM Press release) • “There will no compromise in law and order situation. Gujarat’s peace and tranquillity will not be allowed to be disturbed by anti-social elements intent on exploiting the people’s anger/feelings.” (Source: CM Press release) On 2.03.2002 • 14 aircrafts airlifted to Rajkot and the first plane landed in Rajkot by 0300 hours on 02-03-2002.Later on 2 columns of the Army were dispatched to Godhra on 02-03-2002 and they reached Godhra at 1.30 p.m on the same day. • Two columns of the Army were moved to Baroda on 01-03-2002 at 1830 hours. • Two columns of Army were moved to Rajkot on 02-03-2002 at 1100 hours. • A total of 573 preventive arrests were made out of which 477 were Hindus and 96 Muslims. 16 persons were killed in police firing, out of which 12 were Hindus and 4 Muslims. 482 Hindus and 229 Muslims were arrested for offence. • Total SRPF and CPMF deployed in the state on 2.03.2002 was 88-1-2, out of which 64-1-2 were SRPF and 24-0-0 were CPMF. Statements by Narendra Modi on 2.03.2002: • I appeal to people to cooperate with the security staff in order to maintain law and order and in the performance of their duties.” ( Source: Sandesh/Gujarat Samachar) • “Interest of Gujarat lies in peace and not in communal tension or disturbances.” ( Source: CM Press release) • State Government is committed to pacify the wide spread anger amongst the people and restore law and order with strong political will.”( CM Press release) • Government cannot shy away from its moral duty of maintaining law and order in the state.”(Sandesh/ Gujarat Samachar) • No one will be allowed to take law into their own hands and strict directives have been given to deal very firmly with all those provoking the people and all such elements trying to disturb the atmosphere.” ( CM Press release) On 3.02.2002 • Army columns were moved to Surat on 03-03-2002 at 11 a.m. and to Bhavnagar on 03-03-2002 at 10.35 p.m. hours in the wake of incidents of violence reported from Bhavnagar and Surat. At the peak of deployment there were 26 army columns in the state. • Total number of preventive arrests on 3.02.2002 was 280 Hindus and 83 Muslims. 416 Hindus and 173 Muslims were arrested for offences. 10 Hindus were killed in police firing. Statements by Narendra Modi on 3.02.2002: • “Government cannot shy away from its moral duty of maintaining law and order in the state…all sections of the society too have a role to play in restoring peace quickly… I appeal to people to cooperate with the security staff in order to maintain law and order and in performance of their duties…” • In Gujarat Samachar dated 3.03.2002 the Chief Minister appealed- “After the earthquake of last year and riots now we do not wish to see the future of lakhs of students of the state turning into despair...March is the month of examinations and therefore, I appeal to parents, guardians and educationists to help restore peace quickly and keep the atmosphere stress-free so that all examinations are finished in time…” • March is the month of examinations and therefore, I appeal to parents, guardians and educationists to help restore peace quickly and keep the atmosphere stress-free so that all examinations are finished in time.” ( Source: Gujarat Samachar) On 4.03.2002 • 65 SRPF and 29 CPMF companies were deployed in the state during that day. Out of 285 preventive arrests 241 were of Hindus and 44 of Muslims. 301 Hindus and 75 Muslims were arrested for offences, while 4 Hindus died in police firing. 1. During the riots, police fired 103,559 rounds of bullets. More than half fired in the first 72 hours; 2. Through the period of disturbances, in all 66,268 Hindus and 10,861 Muslims were taken into custody under preventive detention laws. The above provides a brief over view of the actions taken by Modi during the first 3 days of riots. All these facts, statements can be confirmed from newspapers of those days. I will gladly correct myself if provided with more reliable counterfacts. A more detailed account will follow next week listing actions taken by the Gujarat government till mid April 2002 to put down smaller incidents and restore normalcy in the State.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 07:44:53 +0000