Passengers of S-6 Sabarmati Express

 Towards the end of 2002, when identity of about 52 out of the 59 Godhra victims had been established, VHP claimed to be in touch with the families of at least 40 of them Ref 1). Identity of seven victims could not be established . According to one report, VHP had taken Rs.1100/- from each "pilgrim" and had taken two photos each.  On strength of that or otherwise, the bodies were handed over to VHP except the five which were identified at Godhra itself by the relatives. Four were claimed at Godhra itself  one was of a Ahmedabad based woman whose husband accompanied her body to Ahmedabad. Five of the victims had UP domicile and 47 had Gujarat domicile. Who were the victims of Godhra arson? What was their relationship with VHP? A sifting through of various sources available on net  follows. My personal comments are in green.

Based on the replies given in Rajya Sabha and Reservation Chart,  and news reports I have been able to identify some of the victims to have been definitely sponsored by VHP and some of those without any VHP connection 

Passengers sponsored by-- VHP

1 Sailesh Panchal Ref 3 & Ref 4
2. Chirag Patel Ref 3 & Ref 4
3. Pratikshaben Panchal Ref 1 & Ref 3
4. Nitaben Panchal Ref 1 & Ref 3
5. Chhayaben Panchal Ref 1 & Ref 3
6. Harshad Bhai Panchal Ref 1 & Ref 3
7. Nilima Chaudagar Ref 1 & Ref 3 & Ref 7
8. Sudhaben Rawal Ref 1 & Ref 3 & Ref 7
9 Lakhubhai Harjibhai Patel Ref 3 & Ref 5
10 Jyotikaben Bharatbhai Panchal Ref 3 & Ref 6
11 Arvindaben Kantilal Shukl Ref 3 and claim that 10 victims were from Ramol, Ahmedabad
12 Mitalben Bharatbhai Prajapati Ref 3 and claim that 10 victims were from Ramol
13 Malaben Sharadbhai Mhatre Ref 3 & Ref 7
14 Prahlad Patel Ref 8
15. Premaben Dabhi Ref 3 & Ref 9
16. Jiviben Parmabhai Dabhi Ref 3 
17. Umakant Govindbhai Makwana Ref 3 & Ref 16 
18. Manibhai Dahyabhai Dave

-------------------------------------------

Victims without any VHP connection

1. Ramsiri Ben Ref 2 & Ref 3
2. Devikala Ben Ref 2 Ref 3 & Ref 14
3. Rati Ben@ Shivpati Ref 2 & Ref 3
4. Jamuna Prasad Ramashray Tiwari Ref 2 & Ref 3
5. Ramlakhan Singh Ref 3 & Ref 15
6. Sushila Ref 15
7. Priya Ref 15
8. Rohit Ref 15
9 . Sushiladevi Bhagwatiprasad Ref 3 & Ref 15
10 Pratibha Devi Ref 3 & Ref 15
11. Preeti Ref 3 & Ref 15
12 Chhotelal Ramkirpal Bari Ref 15
13 Govindshankar Harishankar Bari Ref 15
14 Puja Ben Deshpandey Ref 3 & Ref 10
15. Yogendra Singh Shri Krishan Kahar

16. Shailendra Kumar Jamna Prasad Mali

17. Rushab Rakeshbhai Chaurasiya, Ref 18
18. Mangala Devi Mishra (missing) Ref 11 & Ref 19

19. Shailendra, s/o Jamuna Prasad (missing) Ref 12
20. Sima Pal (missing) Ref 13 & Ref 14

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  RAILWAYS

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3289

ANSWERED ON-22.08.2003

FINAL REPORT OF GODBCRA TRAIN INCIDENT .

3289 .

SHRI ABU ASIM AZMI

(a) whether Government have received the final report of the Railway inquiry on the Godhra train burning incident in February, 2002; (b) if so, the accurate figure for the loss of lives, with break-up by sex, age-group (adult or child). State of domicile and passenger status (whether listed or other-wis (e); (c) whether all the victims have been identified and their next-of-kin received the ex-gratia announced by Government; and (d) if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI BANDARD DATTATRAYA ) (a): No, Sir. A judicial enquiry is under process by the State Government. (b): 59 passengers died out of which 52 were identified and 7 were not identified. The break up is as under:- (i) Loss of life Male : 21 Female : 26 Children : 05 Not identified : 07 Total : 59 (ii) Dead passengers belonging to Gujrat State-47 / Uttar Pradesh State - 05. Bodies of 7 passengers have not been identified so far, hence their state of domicile is not available. (c) & (d): 52 bodies have been identified and ex-gratia amounting to Rs.7.80 lakhs has been paid to their next of kins. Seven dead bodies could not be identified. S.No Name/age Address Seat No. 1 Ramsiri Ben w/o Hariprasad Pannalal Santoshwdi Vadodara  13 2 Champaben Manubhai Patel, 57 yrs. Vill. Ram Tal. Sojitra, Distt. Anand, Gujarat 3 Vthal Bhai Purshottam Bhai Patel, 35 yrs. Vill. Dairia, Tal. Khanpur 4 Devi Kala Ben W/o Hariprasad Bhai Joshi, 42 yrs. Kailash Nagar. Chandlodiya, Ahmedabad 44  5 Pooja Ben Dipakbhai Deshpandey, 35 yrs. 33, Jyoti Society Dahod, Gujarat.  ? 6 Raju Bhai Sardarji Vaghela, 25 yrs. Dungeji ki Chawl, Khokhra, Ahmedabad 7 Zaverbhai Jadavbhai Prajapati, 50 yrs. Chamundanagar, Ahmedabad 8 Indiraben Banshbhai Patel, 60 yrs. Vill. Run, Tal. Sojitra, Anand, Gujarat. 9 Manjulaben Kiritbhai Patel, 45 yrs. Vill, Run, Tal Sojitra, Anand, Gujarat. 10 Sheela Ben Mafatbhai Patel, 42 yrs. Vill, Run, Tal Sojitra, Anand, Gujarat. 11 Lakhubhai Harjibhai Patel, 48 yrs. Vill.Kuba Dharolkampa, Tal. Vadoli, Sabarkantha, Gujarat. 12 Divahben Ravjibhai Patel, 65 yrs. Vill. Run Tal. Sojitra, Anand, Gujarat 13 Shantaben Jasubhai Patel, 55 yrs. Vill. Run Tal. Sojitra, Anand, Gujarat 14 Bhimjibhai Karsanbhai Patel, 45 yrs. Vill. Dharol Kampa, Tal. Kherbrahna, Sabarkantha, Gujarat 15 Jiviben Parmabhai Dabhi, 60 yrs. Chouryasi ki Chawl, Gitamandir Road, Ahmedabad 16 Lalitaben Kariajibhai Patel, 38 yrs. Vill, Jaydeopura, Tal. Kadi, Distt. Mehsana 17 Premaben Naranbhai Dabhi, 50 yrs. Chouryasi ki Chawl, Gitamandir Road, Ahmedabad. 18 Arvindaben Kantilal Shukl, 72 yrs. 183, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad. 19 Pratikshaben Harshadbhai Panchal, 17 yrs. 338, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, 20 Nitaben Harshadbhai Panchal, 46 yrs. 338, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, 21 Harshadbhai Hargovindbhai Panchal, 52 yrs. 338, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, 22 Chhayaben Harshadbhai Panchal, 17 yrs 338, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, 23 Sudhaben Girishchand Rawal, 56 yrs. 61, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad. 24 Jyotikaben Bharatbhai Panchal, 80 yrs. 705,Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad. 25 Nilima alias Ami Pratakash Bhai Cawdagar, 30 yrs. 597 597, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad. 26 Mitalben Bharatbhai Prajapati, 26 yrs. 141, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad 27 Malaben Sharadbhai Matre, 45 yrs. 628, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad. 28 Niruben Navinchand Brahmabhatt, 38 yrs. 105, Amikunj Society, Sureliya Estate, Ahmedabad. 29 Manglaben Hirjibhai Patel Jaideopura, Tal. Kadi Mehsana, Gujarat 30 Jesalbhai Mansukhbhai Soni, 25 yrs Amraiwadi, Rabari Colony, Opp. Sureliya Estate, Ahmedabad. 31 Shailesh Ranchhodbhai Panchal Opp. Bankaner Bus Stand, Wankaner, Gujarat. 32 Jamuna Prasad Ramashray Tiwari, 70 yrs 57, Municipal Quarters, Naroda Road, Ahmedabad. 17  33 Umakant Govindbhai Makwana, 26 yrs. Prabhakar, Tenament, GD High School Road, Saijaipur Bodha, Ahmedabad. 34 Sadashiv Vithola Jadav, 60 yrs. 27, Kewdavadi Society, CTM Mill ki Chawl, Ahmedabad 35 Chirag Ishwarbhai Patel, 21 yrs. 13, Kishnanagar Society, Amraiwadi, Ahmedabad. 36 Mansukhbhai Kanjibhai Soni, 62 yrs. 20, Bahwani Park Society, Sureliya Estate, Amraiwadi, Ahmedabad 37 Manibhai Dahyabhai Dave, 54 yrs. C-537/8, Noble Nagar, Naroda, Ahmedabad 38 Ratiben @ Shivpati Jamuna Prasad Tiwari, 54 yrs 57, Municipal Quarters Naroda Road, Ahmedabad  18 39 Satishchand Ramanlal Vyas, 43 yrs. B-9, Maruti Nagar, Ambicanagar Odhav, Ahmedabad 40 Prahladbhai Jayantibhai Patel, 42 yrs. 27, Chandralok Society, Behind Laki Park, Nagarpur Road, Mehsana. 41 Ramlakhan Singh Shivbalak Singh, 35 yrs. Havaldar Major, ShahibaghArmy Camp, Ahmedabad  14/16 42 Sushila Devi w/o Ramlakhan Singh, 30 yrs. Shahibagh.Army Camp, Ahmedabad.  14/16 43 Priya D/o Ramlakhan Singh, 5 yrs. Shahibagh.Army Camp, Ahmedabad.  14/16 44 Rohit S/o Ramlakhan Singh, 2.5 yrs Shahibagh.Army Camp, Ahmedabad.  14/16 45 Gobind Shankar Harishankar Bari, 32 yrs. A-1,Gayatri Nagar, Didoli, Jakatnakka, Surat. (Permanent Add: Raibareli. U.P.)  24 46 Pratibha Devi D/o Bhagwati Prasad Pal, 7 yrs. 112, Ganesh Colony, Nikol Road, Odhav, Ahmedabad  ? 47 Priti D/o Bhagwati Prasad Pal, 3 yrs. 112, Ganesh Colony, Nikol Road, Odhav, Ahmedabad  ? 48 Sushila Devi W/o Bhagwati Prasad Pal, 25 yrs. 112, Ganesh Colony, Nikol Road, Odhav, Ahmedabad  ? 49 Chhotelal Ramkrupal Ban, 30 yrs. Gayatri Nagar, Didoli, Jakatnakka, Surat. (PermanentAdd: Raibareli U.P.)  22 50 Rushab Rakeshbhai Chaurasiya, 4 yrs. 8, Tilak Nagar, Vastral, Road, Ahmedabad, (PermanentAdd: Jaunpur, U.P.)  8? 51 Shailendra Kumar Jamna Prasad Mali, 28 yrs. Vill. Isurlbax Kheda, Tal Purava, Distt. Unnav, U.P.   ? 52 Yogendra Singh Shri Krishan Kahar, 28 yrs. Vill. Dharamgatpur, Tal. Karampur, Dist. Kanpur, U.P   ? 53 A body of Woman, 45 yrs. Unknown 54 A body of Boy, 15 yrs. Unknown 55 A body of Man, 25 yrs. Unknown 56 A body of Man, 30 yrs. Unknown 57 A body of Woman, 30 yrs. Unknown 58 A body of Girl, 10 yrs. Unknown 59 A body of Woman, 40 yrs. Unknown ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This list was released one and a half years after the  attack on S-6 Sabarmati Express. For whatever reasons, the Railways was very pusillanimous about sharing information about the victims, taking its own time over releasing the reservation chart, to list of victims to details of compensation paid etc. I am listing all the information that I have been able to trace. I got the reservation chart from Sabrang website (Crime Against Humanity Vol.3 Annexure)  ---------------------------------------------------------------- Ref 2 Reservation Chart of S-6 Sabarmati Express --  (This was made public only in July 2002--The Times of India) Reservation chart for sleeper class coach: S-6 Train : 9166 Sabarmati Exp leaving Lucknow on 25 Feb 2002 Lucknow to  A JN S.No Name                  Sex Age     From        To              PNR MSGS TKT.NO 1 2 3 4 Bahadur Singh            M 41         CNB         BRC        2346536614 9805047 5 Umaben B Singh         F 38         CNB         BRC        2346536614 9805047 6 Poojaben                    F 12         CNB        BRC         2346536614 98050478 J D Chursia                   F 44         CNB         ADI          2440791954 25434849 9 B Singh                     M 46         LKO        ADI           2146012455 NRF 541764 10 M Jain                    M 32         LKO         JHS            2296035067  8573033 11 N R Sharma           M 42          LKO         BRC         2146271243 8596060 12 N Jain                     F 28          LKO         JHS            2246035067 8573033 13 Ram Shri                F 38          LKO         BRC          2146271243 8596060 14 R L Singh             M 35           CNB         ADI            2346628631 8385 16 Shushila                F 30            LKO         ADI            2346628631 8385 17 Jumna Shankar     M 65          LKO          ADI             2146196868 8531824 18 Shiv Pati               F 59          LKO          ADI              2146196868 8531824 19 Poonam Devi         F 22          LKO          ADI               2146196868 8531824 20 R K Singh             M 62         CNB         ADI                2145956410 8198187 21 Amar Nath            M 20         LKO         ADI                 2146196868 8591824 22 G lal                       M 30         CNB        BRC                 2146264141 7396604 24 Govind Bari           M 12          CNB       BRC                  2146264141       (age 32) 7396604 25 Jamuna Prasad       M 35        LKO         ADI                 2346050519 7064628 26 Prema Devi            F 40         LKO        ADI                  2346050519 7064628 27 Pushpa                  F 35          LKO        ADI                 2346050519 7064628 28 Vinodani               F 32          LKO       ADI                  2356050519 7064628 29 Rubby                  F 12          LKO          ADI                2346050519 7064628 30 A Begam              F 70           CNB        RTM                2246199597 99410414 32 A K Singh             M 20           LKO        ADI                  2146633215 91266842 33 Santosh Kumar R M 30         LKO         BRC                 2345501281 27945663 34 Mangala Devi        F 28        LKO          BRC                 2345501281 27945663 35 Archana M           F 12          LKO        BRC                  2345501281 27945663 36 D Bhatacharya      M 60        LKO       ADI                   2245734441 97075133 37 B C Sinha            M 54        CNB       ANND               2245943205 98200243 38 Banya Singh         M 23       CNB       ANND                2245943205 98200243 40 41 Hariprasad Joshi  M 50        LKO       ADI                     2145604015 24872867 42 V Singh               M 28       CNB        BRC                     2440588745 98208339 43 Saju                    M 17        CNB       BRC                     2246094250 99553607 44 SMT Devkala Joshi F 42     LKO       ADI                      2145604015 24872367 45 Raju K Pandey     M 28      CNB       BRC                     2246064246  9803241 46 Mohan Lal           M 32      LKO       BRC                      2246174941 91266877

Additional info from Nanavati Commission report --
58, 59,61 Shiela Virpal + husband + pregnant daughter in law Sima - "missing"
8,72 LalanPrasad + JanakiDevi Chaurasia
62.63,64 - RamferSingh + family

----------------------------------

More than two years later, compensation cheques had not been handed over to all the victim's families. even when their identities were established. Seven years later, were the "missing" declared dead in the arson? In that case, what was the final toll?

--------------------------------------

Ref 3

 http://164.100.47.5:8080/members/Website/quest.asp?qref=91485







QUESTION DETAILS


GOVERNMENT OF INDIA


MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS



RAJYA SABHA


UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1134


TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2004


COMPENSATION TO GODHRA TRAIN VICTIMS .







1134.

SHRI SHAHID SIDDIQUI




Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:- to answer to Unstarred Question 155 given in the Rajya Sabha on the 9th July, 2004 and state the names and addresses of passengers who are paid compensation by the Railways? 

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI R.VELU)A statement is attached. STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO QUESTION NO. 1134 TO BE ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 23.7.2004 REGARDING COMPENSATION TO GODHRA TRAIN VICTIMS The names and addresses of the passengers who have been paid compensation, is as under:-








S.No

Name of the deceased

Address

Name of the claimant to whom compensation paid













1
Ramsiri Ben w/o Hariprasad Pannalal


Santoshwdi Vadodara.     


Shri Hariprasad Sharma  




2
Champaben Manubhai Patel, 57 yrs


Vill. Ran Tal. Sojitra,  Distt Anand,Gujarat


Shri Jayantibhai M. Patel




3
Vthal Bhai Purshottam Bhai Patel, 35 yr  


Vill. Dairia, Tal. Khanpur,  Panchmahal, Gujarat.


Smt Maniben B.Patel




4
Devi Kala Ben w/o Hariprasad Bhai  Joshi, 42 yrs


Kailash Nagar, Chandlodiya, Ahmedabad.


Shri. Hariprasad M. Joshi




5
Pooja Ben Dipakbhai Deshpandey, 35 yrs


33, Jyoti Society Dahod, Gujarat.


Shri Dipak B. Deshpande 




6
Raju Bhai Sardarji Vaghela, 25 yrs


Dungeji ki Chawl, Khokhra, Ahmedabad.


Shri Sardarji M. Vaghela




7
Zaverbhai Jadavbhai Prajapati, 50 yrs


Chamundanagar, Ahmedabad


Smt Shantaben J. Prajapati 




8
Indiraben Banshbhai Patel,  60 yrs


Vill. Run, Tal. Sojitra, Anand, Gujarat.


Shri Bansibhai K. Patel




9
Manjulaben Kiritbhai Patel, 45 yrs


Vill. Run, Tal Sojitra, Anand, Gujarat.


Shri Kirtikumar P. Patel




10
Sheela Ben Mafatbhai Patel, 42 yrs


Vill. Run, Tal. Sojitra, Anand, Gujarat.


Shri Mafatbhai B. Patel       




11
Lakhubhai Harjibhai Patel, 48 yrs


Vill. Kuba Dharolkampa, Tal. Vadoli, Sabarkantha, Gujarat.


Smt.Shantaben L.Patel




12
Divahben Ravjibhai Patel, 65 yrs


Vill. Run Tal. Sojitra, Anand, Gujarat.     


Miss Rekhaben R. Patel




13
Shantaben Jasubhai Patel,  55 yrs


Vill. Run Tal. Sojitra, Anand, Gujarat.


Shri Babubhai J. Patel




14
Bhimjibhai Karsanbhai Patel, 45 yrs


Vill. Dharol Kampa, Tal. Kherbrahna, Sabarkantha. Gujarat.


Smt Arunaben B. Patel




15
Jiviben Parmabhai Dabhi, 60 yrs               


Chouryasi   ki Chawl,  Gitamandir Road, Ahmedabad.


Shri Parmarbhai K.Dhabi




16
Lalitaben Kariajibhai Patel, 38 yrs


Vill. Jaydeopura, Tal. Kadi, Distt.  Mehsana.


Shri Karamshibhai V. Patel




17
Premaben Naranbhai Dabhi, 50 yrs


Chouryasi   ki Chawl,  Gitamandir Road, Ahmedabad.


Shri Narayanbhai H.Dhabi




18
Arvindaben  Kantilal  Shukl, 72 yrs


183, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad.


Shri Kiritkumar K. Shukla 




19
Pratikshaben Harshadbhai Panchal, 17 yrs


338, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad.


Miss Komal Panchal




20
Nitaben Harshadbhai Panchal, 46 yrs 


338, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad..


Miss Komal  Panchal




21
Harshadbhai Hargovindbhai Panchal, 52 yrs


338, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad..         


Miss Komal Panchal




22
Chhayaben Harshadbhai Panchal, 17 yrs


338, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad..


Miss Komal Panchal




23
Sudhaben Girishchand  Rawal, 56 yrs


61, Janta Nagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad..


Shri Girishchandra L. Rawal




24
Jyotikaben Bharatbhai Panchal, 80 yrs


705, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad.


Shri Bharatbhai P. Panchal




25
Nilima alias Ami Prtakash Bhai Cawdagar, 30 yrs.


597, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad..


Shri Prakashbhai B. Chaudagar




26
Mitalben Bharatbhai Prajapati, 26 yrs


141, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Charrasta, Ahmedabad..


Shri Bharatbhai I. Prajapti




27
Malaben Sharadbhai Matre, 45 yrs


628, Jantanagar, Ramol Road, CTM Chaarrasta, Ahmedabad.


Shri Shardhabhai Mhatre




28
Niruben Navinchand Brahmabhatt, 38 yrs


105, Amikunj Society, Sureliya Estate, Ahmedabad..


Shri Navinchandra Brahmbhatt 




29
M. Ben Hirjibhai Patel 


Jaideopura, Tal. Kadi Mehesana, Gujarat.


Shri Alvantbhai H. Patel




30
Jesalbhai Mansukhbhai Soni, 25 yrs


Amraiwadi, Rabari Colony, Opp. Sureliya Estate, Ahmedabad..


Smt Ritaben J. Soni




31
Shailesh  Ranchhodbhai Panchal  


Opp. Bankaner Bus Stand, Wankaner, Gujarat.


Shri Ranchhodbhai R. Panchal




32
Jamuna  Prasad Ramashray Tiwari, 70 yrs         


57, Municipal Quarters, Naroda Road, Ahmedabad.


Shri Sunil Kumar Tiwari      




33
Umakant Govindbhai Makwana, 26 yrs


Prabhakar, Tenament, GD High School Road, Saijaipur Bodha, Ahmedabad.


Shri Govindbhai Makwana               




34
Sadashiv Vithola Jadav,  60 yrs  


27, Kewdavadi Society, CTM  Mill ki Chawl, Ahmedabad.


Smt Ansuyaben S.Jadhav




35
Chirag Ishwarbhai  Patel,  21 yrs


13, Kishnanagar Society,  Amraiwadi, Ahmedabad.


Shri Ishwarbhai K.Patel




36
Mansukhbhai  Kanjibhai Soni, 62 yrs


20, Bahwani Park Society, Sureliya Estate, Amraiwadi, Ahmedabad.


Smt Prafulaben M. Soni




37
Manibhai Dahyabhai Dave, 54 yrs          


C-537/8, Noble  Nagar, Naroda, Ahmedabad.


Smt.Kashiben M. Dave




38
Ratiben @ Shivpati Jamuna Prasad Tiwari, 54 yrs


57, Municipal Quarters Naroda Road, Ahmedabad.


Shri Sunilkumar Tiwari 




39
Satishchand Ramanlal  Vyas, 43 yrs


B-9, Maruti Nagar, Ambicanagar Odhav, Ahmedabad.


Smt Minaben S. Vyas




40
Ramlakhan Singh Shivbalak  Singh, 35 yrs


Havaldar  Major, Shahibagh Army Camp, Ahmedabad.


Smt. Lajjawati Singh 




41
Pratibha Devi D/o Bhagwati Prasad Pal, 7yrs


112,  Ganesh Colony, Nikol Road, Odhav, Ahemdabad.


Shri Bhagwatiprasad  Pal




42
Priti D/o Bhagwati Prasad Pal, 3yrs


112,  Ganesh Colony, Nikol Road, Odhav, Ahmedabad.


Shri Bhagwatiprasad Pal 




43
Sushila Devi w/o Bhagwati Prasad Pal, 25 yrs


112,  Ganesh Colony, Nikol Road, Odhav, Ahmedabad.


Shri Bhagwatiprasad  Pal




44
Shailendra Kumar Jamna Prasad Mali, 28yrs


Vill. Isurlbax Kheda,Tal Purava,  Distt. Unnav, U.P.


Jamnaprasad Hariprasad MaliIshwari

-------------------------

From Various newspaper and other reports --

The BJP will include the relatives of the victims of the Sabarmati Express carnage in Godhra during the final phase of electioneering in Gujarat. These people will aggressively campaign for the need to have a BJP government in Gujarat. VHP leader Giriraj Kishore told The Asian Age that his organisation would be using these families to "campaign for a pro-Hindu government." The VHP has got in touch with the families at least 40 Godhra victims. "We won't use these people to address rallies for us, but for door-to-door campaigning. Even their presence at the public meetings will make a lot of difference," a BJP office bearer said, adding that this would be the USP of the BJP campaign.  "This was an idea floated by the VHP which has been accepted by us," he said. However, Gujarat VHP general secretary Kaushik Mehta said the victims' family members, while participating in the VHP dharamsabhas, will not be paraded to get publicity. "We cannot parade the Panchal family members or others to get benefit out of this," Mr Mehta said. Komal Panchal, who lost four family members in the Godhra tragedy, has already agreed to the VHP request. Three Panchal sisters, Komal, Gayatri and Avani, lost their parents and two other sisters in the S-6 coach fire.  Interestingly, the Panchal sisters refuse requests for photographs, saying that the VHP has instructed them to avoid getting photographed. "But, we have agreed to propagate how wrong Islamic terrorism is," they said.  For the sisters, the Godhra carnage is an example of the Islamic terrorism. "Because the VHP has told us that," they added.  In fact, the three sisters have a steady stream of requests to go and attend BJP meetings. "What is wrong. It is not as if they are forcing me. I agree with the VHP that not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims. The BJP is fighting to remove Islamic terrorism and I am going to support them. I have lost my parents and sisters and relatives to Islamic terrorists who set the Sabarmati Express on fire. Now, they have to be stopped. And only the BJP can do that," says Komal Panchal, with a newly-acquired confident tone that tinges with patriotism, which she inadvertently mixes up with the BJP. The BJP will use the families of the victims of the Sabarmati Express carnage to drive home the message: "Islamic terrorism can claim your family too. Vote for the BJP to save yourself from being a victim. See we have suffered. And you have a chance to vote for a party that is committed to teach Islamic terrorists a lesson." Alpa Patel, who lost her husband in Godhra, will campaign for the BJP with a clear message. "When you go to vote, remember Godhra. Remember they killed 59 innocent Hindus in Godhra. Tomorrow they will kill more. Let Godhra decide your vote. Don't forget Godhra and don't forgive Godhra." Manda Bhatia and her husband Nilkanth, who survived the Sabarmati Express carnage, will also campaign for the BJP.Prakash Chondkar, a rickshaw driver who lost his wife in the incident, says: "I don't mind if I don't work for a few days, but I will campaign for the BJP and expose the pseudo-secularists. My wife was a VHP worker and now I am going to fight for her cause." However, not all relatives of the Godhra victims share similar feelings. A retired government doctor, Girish Rawal, lost his VHP activist wife Sudhaben in Godhra. "I asked for police protection and even called up Gordhan Jhadafiya, the home minister, who was has been a VHP worker. They did nothing. My only son Ashwin was also killed in the riots. I always voted for the BJP, now I won't ever vote for any one," he said dejectedly. The BJP is not just banking on the Godhra kin, but is even locating the family members of the Hindus killed in post-Godhra riots. In Panchmahals, VHP leader Rakesh Thacker claims to have located the families of Upendra in Rajgadh village, Tahhat Audal in Halol and Golabhai Kodhji Khatada in Jhalod. These three young VHP activists were killed in post-Godhra riots and the VHP will use their family members to canvass for the BJP.  Ref 1

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Among those on board was Janak Panchal, a kar sevak who had travelled on the same train from Ayodhya in 2002. He got off the train, and was greeted with garlands by the VHP men. Panchal said he travels to Ayodhya every year at this time, returning to Godhra on February 27 — to pay homage to his younger brother Shailesh, who was among the 59 passengers, mostly kar sevaks, who were killed in the train fire. Today's trip was Panchal's tenth.






"My brother was only 21 years old and studying mechanical engineering. My neighbour's young son Chirag Ishwarbhai Patel, 19, was also killed in the incident," Panchal said.  Ref 4











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From a remote village in Sabarkantha district, TNN reported that an RSS member, 50-year-old farmer Lakhubai Makani, among those burnt alive then, was to be remembered on February 27 with a Rs. 50,000 marble bust being installed in his honour. “The village has been decking up for the function”, said the report. About 2000 people, including VHP office bearers and sants, were expected. Ref 5





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The family suffered a double blow in the Gujarat violence. Bela's mother-in-law, Sudhaben (75), was one of the Ramsevaks who were killed in the Sabarmati Express fire. Sudhaben went to Ayodhya as part of the VHP's delegation from Ramol in Ahmedabad. The trip was a freebie - all expenses paid. Each VHP worker in Ramol sent a family member as part of the Ramsevak contingent. Around 11 victims of the Godhra violence were from Ramol.....Her neighbour, Bharatbhai Panchal, who lost his wife in the Sabarmati Express tragedy, agrees. "The BJP utilised this opportunity cleverly to win seats. It took advantage of the public sympathy," he says. "Even now it continues to foment trouble. At a public meeting on the eve of the February 16 municipal elections , a speaker suggested that we retaliate for what happened in Godhra. That is all that the BJP has done for the past year. Now the leaders should let us live in peace," says Bharatbhai. Ref 6






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In an embarrassing development for the ruling BJP in Gujarat, some relatives of the Godhra train carnage today alleged being ‘‘pressured’’ by party and VHP workers and demanded shifting of the Nanavati Commission of inquiry outside the state as they had ‘‘no faith’’ in the Narendra Modi government.
The allegation comes even as an NHRC petition demanding shifting of trial in the Best Bakery case outside Gujarat on the plea that the kin of the post-Godhra riot victims were being ‘‘pressured’’ by BJP leaders is pending before the Supreme Court.
Addressing mediapersons here, the relatives of the victims, under the aegis of city based NGO — Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) alleged that the BJP and VHP had ‘used’ them for political gains and said they felt abandoned. They also appealed to the public not to participate in the forthcoming Ayodhya Yatra organised by the BJP and VHP on October 15.
‘‘The BJP had taken our family members to Ayodhya and assured of bringing them back safely. Why were they sent back without none of the BJP members accompanying them,’’ asked 82-year-old Girish Rawal, whose wife Sudha was killed in the carnage and son Ashwin was stabbed in post-Godhra violence. The BJP and VHP sponsored Ayodhya Yatra was ‘‘politically motivated’’, he alleged.
Prakash Chodagar and Sharad Mhatre, both of whom lost their wives in the carnage, alleged they were ‘‘pressurised’’ by BJP leader Jaykant Dave during inquiry by the Nanavati Commission to ‘‘keep our mouth shut’’ and the party functionaries themselves deposed posing as representatives of the victims’ families.
The victims also lamented that 19 months after the carnage, they were still struggling to get compensation from the state government. Ref 7

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A victim of the attack on the Sabarmati Express in Godhra, Prahlad Patel, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.Patel's body was taken to his residence in Mehsana on Wednesday evening, police sources said. He was the Mehsana unit president of the Bajrang Dal  Ref 8

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Advocate Deepak Shukla said Naranbhai Dabhi, the husband of another victim Premaben 

Dabhi also got a compensation cheque of the same amount. Ref 9

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Since the bodies were charred beyond recognition, it was not possible to identify any one on the basis of physical features. The collector of Godhra told the Tribunal that only five bodies could be identified on the basis of articles or things which were on their person. One was the local station master’s wife who had boarded the train at Godhra to go to Vadodara. She had a metal tiffin box in her hand and she was thus identified.Thus, no one could say with certainty that the dead bodies were all of kar sevaks.
(CCT Vol 1 page 24)

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Tragically. Puja Deshpande the wife of the Station Master Shri Deepak Deshpande had boarded the Sabarmati Express on that day travelling to Ahmedabad – page 6 
--Report of CPI(M)-AIDWA delegation ------Ref 10

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One would have expected Satishkumar Mishra to vow never to board the Sabarmati 

Express again. He was in the S-6 coach of this train on February 27, 2002 when it was set on fire at Godhra, resulting in the killing of 59 Ram Sevaks and triggering Gujarat's deadliest communal riots. Mishra and his daughter Archana had barely survived, while is wife is still missing. Ref 11

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Sri Jamuna Prasad happens to be a passenger traveling in Sabarmati Express along 

with some others and were holding reservation of berth. The traveling was fro from Lucknow to Ahmedabad. Incidentally, he lost his five year old son in the train. His definite evidence has been that neither he nor his relations who were traveling with him could occupy the berths because of the Bajrang Dal People. As a matter of fact, there was no T.T.E available to lodge their protest for not being able to obtain the reserved berths. The witness was definite about the coach being extremely over crowded and there was no berth or space available in the coach. As a matter of fact, upon very great persuasion and request from his side some people made some room for the lady folks to obtain a seat but so far as the witness was concerned, he was standing throughout the journey Ref 12

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A women passenger in the ill-fated S-6 Coach of the Sabarmati Express, which was set on fire 

at Godhra, today told an inquiry commission that a ‘‘minority community tea vendor who entered the bogey was jostled out by agitated kar sevaks’’.Sheila Pal, a native of Kanpur travelling to Vapi with her husband and daughter-in-law Sima deposed before K.G. Shah and G.T. Nanavati Inquiry Commission that there was some scuffle at the platform followed by heavy stone-pelting on their bogey from outside. She told the Commission that when a Muslim tea vendor came inside to give the cups, agitated kar sevaks told her not to have tea from his hands and jostled him out of the train. She said as she was searching for her daughter-in-law, a bottle containing some inflamables burst on the floor and her sari and shawl caught fire. She added that her pregnant daughter-in-law was still missing. Pal said all she could remember amidst the smoke was that someone pushed her to safety. Justice K.G. Shah (Retd) said: ‘‘Out of the 40-odd witnesses, she is the only one to say a Muslim tea vendor was pushed out by kar sevaks’’.Ref 13

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111. Shilaben Virpal (W-47) has stated that when the train had stopped after running for about 4 minutes, there was heavy pelting of stones and that had broken the window near her seat. It had become open. So to save herself from being hit by stones, she had put her bag against that window and stood behind the bag to support it. While doing so she was hit by a stone and had started bleeding. Soon thereafter something thrown from outside had fallen inside the coach. From the sound which it had made, she had felt that it was like a glass bottle filled with something falling on the floor.Thereafter there was heavy scent of something followed by smokeinside the coach. After about a minute, there was fire in the coach. Her ‘sari’ had caught fire and she had also received burn injuries. She was saved by her husband by pushing her out of the coach. According to her, throwing of stones had continued for about 10 to 20 minutes. She had not seen any burning thing coming inside the coach but had seen something falling inside the coach. Her daughter-in-law Seema Pal was not able to get out of the coach and was burnt alive.  114. Hariprasad Joshi (W-1009) an Inspector of the Income Tax department was occupying seat No.43. He has stated that the train had stopped after travelling some distance. Pelting of stones was going on. One window of the adjoining compartment had remained open and through it stones were coming inside the coach Therefore, the passengers sitting there had left their seats and were standing in the passage. Many passengers had climbed on upper berths but they had come down when somebody had said that there was fire in the coach. To avoid inhaling smoke he had crawled on the floor of the coach to reach near the door. By that time, some portion of the back side of his jacket was burnt and he 79 had also received burn injury on his right ear and on his face. He was able to get out of the coach but his wife could not do so. By the time he was telling her to get out of the coach in the same manner in which he had got out, there was a big fire in the coach and his wife was burnt alive inside the coach. He has stated that he had seen smoke about 10 minutes after the train had stopped. Stones were falling all over in the coach.He and his wife had stood near seat no. 72 as somebody had stated that passengers should go towards that side. He had seen smoke coming from the side of seat no.1. According to him, seat no. 1 was towards guard’s side and seat no. 72 was towards engine side. He has stated that he had received burn injuries while he was inside the coach, but had not seen flames inside the coach till he had gone out of it. He was taken to Delhi by the railway people for giving his statement before the Banerjee Committee. He did not know how his jacket got burnt. He has stated that the fire was behind him and his jacket was also burnt from behind. His statement given to the police was read over to him and he confirmed that it was correctly recorded. Therein he has stated that in between Lucknow and Godhra no karsevak had prepared tea or food. He had not seen any cooking article with them. Ref 14

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Nine more Godhra victims identified

TNN Aug 28, 2002, 10.58pm IST



VADODARA: Identities of nine more persons killed in the Sabarmati Express carnage on February 27 were ascertained in the DNA tests conducted by the Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL). A Godhra court, meanwhile, ordered that the properties of 33 absconding accused should be attached.
Gujarat Railway Police (GRP) officials said on Wednesday that the court order on an application moved by the investigating agencies had arrived on Wednesday. "The order asked officials of the revenue department, RTO and others to begin the process of attaching the properties," said GRP deputy superintendent of police Noel Parmar.
 The application was moved under section 83 of the CrPC by the agencies after the accused did not present themselves to the investigating agencies and evaded arrest. They were earlier declared absconding. The names include some of the prime accused like Razak Kurkur and Salim Hazi, said Parmar.
 
Meanwhile, GRP officials said the DNA test results of samples of nine of the 19 bodies sent to the FSL had arrived. All the nine persons were travelling in the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express.
GRP superintendent of police J K Bhatt said six of the nine persons identified had reserved tickets for the journey. Three others were children travelling with their parents without ticket.
Bhatt said with this identities of 49 of the 59 deceased had been established. "Now we know that 10 of the deceased identified so far were bonafide passengers of the train. We expect that four of the deceased not identified so far may also be reserved ticket holders," Bhatt added.
The list of the nine persons identified by FSL include Ramlakhan Singh (35), his wife Sushila (30) as well as their children Priya (5) and Rohit (2). The test also identified Sushiladevi Bhagwatiprasad (25) as well as her two children Pratima (7) and Preeti (3). Others include Chhotelal Ramkirpal Bari (30) and Govindshankar Harishankar Bari (32).Ref 15

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Ahmedabad: they are like the phoenix. emerging from the ashes of the communal flare-up, some of the godhra carnage survivors seem purified like gold. but there are also those who continue to burn with the desire to avenge their wounds. "i'm extremely disturbed over what is happening in our area. i had pleaded with folded hands to all who came to my son's cremation to please restrain themselves and maintain peace," govind makwana told tnn at the 'besna' of his only son, umakant (22), who was burnt alive on board the sabarmati express. but the naroda-patia area of ahmedabad is still tense after a 5,000-strong mob burnt not less than 65 people alive avenging the godhra killings in one stroke. the mob in the area was especially enraged over the death of umakant and it is said that what happened in naroda-patia was "their tribute" to him. "killing other people is not the solution. losing a son is shattering and i want no father or mother to lose or suffer," pleaded govindbhai. -- Ref 16

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Two victims of Godhra incident met the team at Raj Bhawan Annexe on 20 March. 11 year old Gayatri, d/o Harshad Bhai, is the sole survivor of her family.  She said that her mother, father and two sisters died in the fire in compartment S/6 of Sabarmati Express.  She could manage to jump out to the safe side from the burning coach.  She said that the train was attacked by a crowd, which was 1500-2000 strong.  She added that the crowd was shouting ‘Get the girls out’.  Smt. Urmila Trivedi  who accompanied Gayatri said that she was travelling in coach S/5 and was injured in stone pelting. 





            Sunil Kumar Jamna Prasad Tiwari and his brother Amarjeet met the team at Govt. Guest House on 21 March, 2002 morning.  They said that their father Jamna Prasad (67) and mother Surti Ben (54) were among the Godhra victims.  Only one of them is employed in a private TV repair shop.  They have two unmarried sisters to look after.  They requested for assistance and employment. 





            Smt. Veena Ben Rajut, a VHP activist appeared before the team at Govt. Guest House on 21st March morning. She said that the Godhra tragedy could have claimed many more lives if the train was not running late by six hours.  She said that about 2800 karsevaks were travelling in this train.  She claimed to have saved 18 people by pulling them out from the burning coach.  She said that the Muslim community wants to make Gujarat into a Kashmir.  She said that the women were particularly targeted by the mobs.  She said 3-4 women among Karsevaks are still missing.   On being asked to furnish their names, she said that they belonged to Bihar and as such she did not know their names. Ref17


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"There was thick smoke all around... I passed out... When I woke up my grandson was missing."

Janakidevi Chaurasia, passenger on Sabarmati Express









As the train pulled out of Godhra station, Janakidevi, travelling with her husband, son and grandson Rishab, heard stones hitting it. Seated on an upper berth in S-6 she was scared but safe. The train moved and stopped again. Her husband Lallan told her to stay put because a huge mob had attacked them. By then the doors and windows on the platform side of the train were shut. Suddenly Gyan Prakash, her son, spotted fire on the other side. Just then bottles landed inside the coach. "There was black smoke all around. Somebody pulled me down and pushed me from the train. Then I passed out." When she regained consciousness she found her husband and son, but Rishab had disappeared. They haven't found him yet.


Read more at:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/godhra-investigation-most-suspects-behind-sabarmati-express-fire-have-criminal-records/1/220310.html     Ref 18





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Curious case of survivor's 'missing' wife



Sachin Sharma, TNN Feb 15, 2012, 11.05PM IST







Tags:


Survivor|
state government|
SSG Hospital at Vadodara|
Satish Kumar|
Sabarmati Express carnage






VADODARA: Many may find the decision by Satish Kumar Mishra, a survivor and a witness of the Sabarmati Express carnage at Godhra, to travel by the same train on the 10th anniversary of the carnage on February 27, 2012, for his daughter's wedding curious. But equally curious is the case of his wife who is technically missing since the carnage on February 27, 2002, that left 59 dead.

Mishra recalls how he had boarded the ill-fated S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express at Lucknow. When the coach was set ablaze at Godhra, Mishra, his wife Mangla and daughter Archana were on the berth numbers 33, 34 and 35 of the train.






Mishra says that he ran to a part of the train where the flames were less and forced open rods of the window there. "I helped my daughter Archana and others out of the coach. Utter confusion had prevailed at that time. I did not push my wife out of that window like others. When I got down, she was not there near the coach," Mishra says.

Recalling what had transpired on that day, Mishra said that he and his daughter were taken to the Godhra Civil Hospital by policemen for treatment. "I had severe burns on my hands and scalp. Archana was, however, not injured," he says adding that later on the same day he was shifted to the SSG Hospital at Vadodara.

Till this time there was no trace of his wife. Mishra said that it was only later when he made inquiries at Godhra that he came to know that records at the out patient department (OPD) mentioned that his wife Mangla had been treated there. "The records also show that she was taken to the ward where burns patients were being treated," he said.

But after this there has been no trace of his wife. Mishra believes that she died in the tragedy. "There is no chance of her survival. I saw her fall on the floor in the burning coach," he claims.

Mishra filed a petition in the railways tribunal at Ahmedabad to claim compensation and has been granted the same. Mishra says he was not aware of the state government's policy of presuming that the missing persons were dead and awarding them compensation. He applied for the compensation only in 2008. Ref 19

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Families rip VHP Godhra claim- were they all kar sevaks?  Author: BASANT RAWAT  Date: 10/03/2003 Source: Telegraph  Contents: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030310/asp/nation/story_1752313.asp Families rip VHP Godhra claim- were they all kar sevaks?  BASANT RAWAT 
Ahmedabad, March 9: When 59 people died after the Sabarmati Express was set on fire at Godhra last year, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad was quick to claim that all were kar sevaks
Some of the victims' relatives now deny they had anything to do with the VHP.
Railway minister Nitish Kumar said last week a list of those killed would be placed in Parliament shortly, more than a year after the incident. 
One of the victims was Sharyuben Mhatre, a housewife, whose husband says she had no links with the VHP or its women's wing, the Durga Vahini. "My wife knew nothing about the activities of the VHP," stresses Sharad Mhatre. 
The 38-year-old was a devout Hindu who regularly visited the nearby temple, where some local VHP workers organised bhajan-kirtan to build up the tempo for the Ram temple movement.
On February 22, the day the first batch of kar sevaks left for Ayodhya, he got a call from Sharyu in his office. She announced that she was going to Ayodhya with neighbour Amiben Prakash. The VHP, she said, had arranged for the travel.
Sharad recalls VHP workers coming to his house two days before his wife left. They had asked Sharyu to fill a form expressing her interest to visit Ayodhya. He had advised her against it, and didn't suspect she wanted to go.
"They (Sharyu and Amiben) filled the form when I was in office," Sharad says. "I could do nothing because they had been made to believe that the purnahuti yagna was important and many sadhus would bless the congregation.''
Sharyu and Amiben burnt to death in coach S-6 on February 28, 2002. A year later, Sharad lives with the regret of having let his wife have her way.
Arvindaben Sukla, from Janata Nagar Ramol, was another victim. She was a religious 72-year-old, whose son Kiritbhai blames the VHP for telling Arvindaben she would be able to perform puja in Ayodhya. 
His mother had nothing to do with the Sangh outfit, Kiritbhai underlines. 
The municipal employee, who lives in a chawl at Janata Nagar that lost 10 residents in the carnage, flashes a newspaper clipping quoting VHP leaders as saying they were caring for the families of all Godhra victims.
"The VHP leaders claimed that the families of the victims were getting regular ration and their leaders were visiting the aggrieved families regularly. The reality is that not a single VHP leader came to console us. It all turned out to be false propaganda by the VHP," Kiritbhai said.
Manibhai Dave was a 54-year-old pharmacist and government employee with a monthly salary of Rs 7,000. He would shuttle between Ahmedabad and Dholka, where he worked. He was neither as gullible nor as religious as Sharyu or Arvindaben.
It was his 13-year-old son, Yogeshwar, who would attend RSS shakhas. Spurred by his son's involvement with the RSS, Manibhai applied for leave and left for Ayodhya. He was not a VHP member.
Manibhai's death has devastated daughter Chhaya, who quit her studies to work as a nurse for Rs 800 a month. Much like her father, she travels 10 km from Kubernagar to her workplace. 
A year after her father's death, Chhaya has no time to grieve. As the breadwinner, she has to worry about earning a decent living. "I was told I will get the job in place of my father,'' she says. But that doesn't look easy. "There is a technical problem. My father died while he was on leave. That is getting difficult to sort out," Chhaya says.









S-6 survivors contradict each other



TNN Nov 21, 2002, 11.00pm IST



AHMEDABAD: A day after Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) kar-sevika and passenger of coach S-6 in the Sabarmati Express, Savita Sadhu, testified to having seen a mob pour inflammable liquid inside the coach and setting it on fire, other survivors testified to the contrary.

"When the train stopped for the second time at Godhra station, I did not see any Ramsevak boarding our coach," said VHP member Babubhai Patel who was sitting in the same compartment as Sadhu.




Patel was being examined by Justice GT Nanavati and Justice KG Shah Commission of Inquiry into the Godhra incident and its aftermath, on Thursday. The number of Ramsevaks travelling in coach S-6, according to him, were between 200 and 300. He also stated that when the train stopped at Godhra station on arrival, he saw a crowd of over a 1,000 persons. But there was no stonethrowing then, he added.

The stone pelting took place when the train stopped again and lasted for some half-an-hour, he claimed. He remembered having climbed on the upper berth immediately after that.

Sadhu had stated on Wednesday that she had seen fire and clouds of smoke coming out of it in the coach, while Patel contradicted this and said, "I did not see any fire nor anyone trying to torch the coach."

He also negated his own statement recorded earlier by the police where he had said that he escaped by jumping out of the window. He instead claimed, "I bolted from the door."

Patel also claimed to have seen a teavendor coming inside his coach at Godhra but could not recollect any fight having taken place between the passengers and the vendors.

Dwarikabhai Patel, another fellow traveller, stated that glass panes of the windows broke down after the stone throwing and so the metal shutters were closed.

He too contradicted his police statement, where he had said that he had seen people pouring liquid and setting the coach afire. He said it was the information that he had gathered later but had not witnessed the incident himself. He also claimed to have learnt later that there had been a scuffle between the Ramsevaks and vendors.

Yet another passenger Jayantibhai Patel, testified almost on the same lines. He said, he was chanting mantras and so he never asked anyone as to why had the train stopped.

Carnage survivors have negated their own statements given to the police. One of them, who had earlier said that he saw people pouring liquid and setting the coach on fire, later said he had not witnessed the incident.

 "Muslim tea vendor was thrown out of coach in Godhra"


Manas Dasgupta

Kar sevak's behaviour with other passengers rude: passenger                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              














Some passengers were prevented from taking tea from the vendor








"Kar sevak's behaviour might have triggered reaction"


AHMEDABAD: A passenger of the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express told the G.T. Nanavati - K.G. Shah judicial inquiry commission, probing the Godhra train carnage and the post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat, here on Saturday that a Muslim tea vendor was "thrown'' out of the coach at the Godhra railway station by kar sevaks travelling in the coach.

Virpal Chedilal, who was travelling in the train with his wife and daughter-in-law, told the commission that he and some other passengers were prevented by kar sevaks from taking tea from the vendor just because he was a Muslim. The vendor was "bundled out'' of the coach by the slogan-shouting kar sevaks which he believed could have sparked off the disturbances. He said that when the train had halted at the Godhra platform, he had got down to buy some snacks and at that time "everything looked normal'' and there was no tension.

He said all through the journey up to Godhra, the kar sevak's behaviour with other passengers and railway officials was "very very bad and rude.'' Another passenger, Ram Naresh Gupta, also told the commission that though he had five confirmed berths in the adjoining S-7 coach, he was rudely turned down by the kar sevaks who had occupied them, and he and his family had to travel sitting at the narrow passage adjacent to the lavatory in S-6 coach.

Both Mr. Virpal Chedial and Mr. Gupta were late entrants on the list of witnesses who were included at the request of the State Government. Both of them claimed that they had smelt heavy smoke "possibly emanating from burning petrol-like substance,'' but both admitted to having not seen anyone pouring inflammable fluid inside the compartment. Neither of them had either seen the fire till they managed to disembark from the coach nor had any idea how the fire started. But both of them were convinced that in the packed coach, carrying not less than 250 passengers, it was not possible for anyone to ignite a stove. Mr. Gupta said he heard some noise which could be caused by breaking of some "glass bottles'' but had no idea from where they came and what these contained.

Mr. Virpal, whose daughter-in-law is still "missing,'' said he had submitted an application at the Godhra railway station the next day about his daughter-in-law but so far the police had not found any trace of her. He was not aware of the inquest made on the bodies of the dead passengers nor was he shown the bodies to identify his missing daughter-in-law. At Godhra, he was told to go to Sola civil hospital in Ahmedabad where the bodies were kept but when he approach it on March 1, he was told that he was "too late'' and the bodies had already been disposed of. But neither the list of the dead passengers included his daughter-in-law nor in the DNA test of the bodies her death was confirmed. But in the last three and a half years he and the police had not been able to trace his daughter-in-law, he said.

The then inspector general of police, Vadodara range, which included Godhra region, Deepak Swaroop, told the commission that Chief Minister Narendra Modi insisted on visiting the burnt coach and the yard where the bodies were kept, even after he was informed about the "charged atmosphere and communal tension'' in the area following the incident. The police had a hard time to bring him out safely after being "mobbed'' by the local people when he visited the yard. He admitted that Mr. Modi had to return from Godhra by road because it had already become too dark for his helicopter to fly. Mr. Swaroop's testimony apparently give lie to the claims made earlier that he had returned by helicopter and could not have attended a meeting of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad at  Lunavada, near Godhra, where the "revenge'' against Muslims during the "Gujarat Bandh'' the next day was allegedly planned. Mr. Swaroop's cross-examination is yet to be incompleted.

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Sri Hari Prasad Joshi happens to be a Central Government employee in the Income Tax Department appeared before the Committee and narrated his experience as below:-
Sri Joshi was traveling from Lucknow to Ahmedabad and boarded the train on 25th night – whereas the scheduled time was around 21.00 hrs., the train was late about 4 hrs. He has been rather specific that he had a reservation from Lucknow but the coach was over-crowded and with very great effort he could go inside the coach and once inside the coach he found 3 – 4 persons were sleeping on every berth but since he had a reservation he went to his seat and asked those fellows who were sleeping on his berth to get up because the seat was reserved for him; the occupants, however, replied in the negative and after a long argument eventually offered them the top-most berth and he and his wife were asked to occupy that berth – it was, however in the S-6 coach. The situation like that, however continued for sometime but in Madhya Pradesh some passengers got down and Sri Joshi could manage two upper-berths for he and his wife. When the train arrived at Godhra, he got down in order to obtain some tea but as and when he boarded the train he was advised to close down the shutter of the window as there may be pelting of stones and after sometime stone pelting started quite heavily. Sri Joshi thereafter stated that immediately after the train started from the platform there was a chain pulling and after a short-while when the train started moving again it stopped further for the second time and stone pelting was much more heavier and there was a lot of crowd there. The train at that point of time was absolutely over-crowded and there were about 20-25 people standing inside the cubicle and there were shouting that the train was on fire. People at that point of time started getting down from the train and Joshis were also waiting for their turn but by that time the smoke was so thick that they were having tremendous amount of breathing problem. As a matter Sri Joshi fell down on the floor and located some place obviously on the floor where he could breath and that breathing helped him out from his choking sensation. The next bit of his evidence is rather significant as well as important and the undersigned feels it expedient to record it as it is.
Q.13 Then what happened?
A.13………..Then, I , crawled towards the door, which was open and then came out after crawling the entire distance in the coach itself.”
After however, coming out of the coach, he realized that his wife was also inside and when he went near the window where they were sitting he saw his wife in a very difficult situation for breathing and them he told her to come out but she could not come out and she got choked to death and she fell down. This happened in his presence and he saw his wife falling down on the floor and thereafter whosoever died they were suffocated to death and upon seeing people coming out, those who were pelting stones left the place.
Subsequently, the train was shunted to the sick line and bodies were taken out and out of 58 bodies, he could identify his wife’s body inspite of the fact that there were very great difficulty in identification since they were totally charred. The bodies were taken to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital by trucks and about 14 to 16 bodies were kept in one truck. There were 5 trucks carrying those bodies and Sri Joshi also accompanied the bodies in one of the truck driver’s cabin. The trucks did leave Godhra around 23.00 hrs. and reached Ahmedabad around at 4.00 hrs. in the morning of 28th February. The body was identified by him and it was burnt mainly on the upper portion and tow upper limbs were not there and her head was also totally burnt and charred and the entire injury was on the upper portion and it is thereafter the hospital authority arranged for an ambulance for shifting the bodies and they brought the body of his wife to his house at Ahmedabad.
The next portion of his evidence is also rather significant when he stated that there was no fire as such inside the coach but there was heavy smoke by reason of which he had been very severe choking sensation but could come out of the coach only after crawling on the floor. Sri Joshi further stated that he had seen some passengers with head bands inscribed with ‘Jai Mata Di’ and ‘ Jai Sri Ram’ and they were carrying Trishuls with them and most of the passengers were the persons having their head bands and Trishuls and there were some other persons other than those may be about 10% while 90% were head bands and 10% were ordinary passengers like him. It has been a definite statement that he could see fire only when he came out but it was only smoke as long as he was inside the coach. He had not suffered much of an injury as a matter of fact his hair was to some extent got singed and he felt burning sensation on his face.
Another aspect of the matter need to be delved into at this juncture as regards the statement of Hari Prasad Joshi and the undersigned feels it expedient to note the relevant extracts of his evidence on this significant count.
Q.30 Do you think that most of the people died because of asphyxia?
A.30 Yes that is so because I was standing near the window for the safety of my wife and I could hear the cries for help, but within two or three minutes, all became quiet and it is thereafter only flames were seen and not at any earlier point of time.
Q.31 Did you see the fire?
A.31 No. I did not see the fire.
Q.32 When you got down from the train, where were you on the yard side or the platform side?
A.32 On the yard side and not on the platform side.
Q.33 You said that you were having a choking sensation. Did you get any smell?
A.33 Yes, I could smell as if some plastic is burning or some Rexene is burning.
Q.34 When you came out of coach and saw the fire, was there any effort on the part of the officials of the Railways and Civil authorities to come and help you out?
A.34 When I came out, I did not find anybody for any rescue operation either from the Railways or from Civil authority.
Q.35 How long you were standing there?
A.35 I was standing there for about five to seven minutes, but after I saw my wife falling down on the floor, and thereafter the flame engulfed the coach I was so upset I could not stand there any further and I sat down at a distance from the coach.
Q.36 Did you see any fire brigade people in and around the train?
A.36 Yes. I saw two fire engines, which arrived at the spot.
Q.37 Were they able to extinguish the fire?
A.37 No, the fire brigade staffs were running short of water, and they had to go twice or thrice to bring water, but in the mean time, the coach caught fire in a much bigger way and the entire coach was totally under the grip of fire.
Q.38 Up to what time the fire continued?
A.38 I am not in apposition to tell you but it continued for quite sometime since the fire brigade people were going to get further water and they were taking quite a long time to come back and thereafter trying to douse the fire upon obtaining water and in that way they were going out and coming in with water but the fire continued unabated.
Q.39 Can you tell us if the fire brigade functioned as per the normal expectation of the people this coach could have been saved from being burnt?
A.39 If there was timely intervention and the working of fire brigade would have been more effective, then probably the loss could not have been so much as it has happened in the present case in coach S-6.
Q.40 Can you tell me as to the place from where they were bringing the water?
A.40 No, I do not have any idea but they were taking quite a long time to come back and obviously thus getting water from a distant place.
Q.41 If it is said that the fire brigade did get water from a nearby well, would that be a wrong statement?
A.41 I cannot tell you about that.”
On the issue of post mortem it has been the definite statement of Sri Joshi that there was no post mortem examination of the bodies either at Ahmedabad or at Godhra. The body of his wife was handed over to him at Godhra Station itself and when he wanted the death certificate at Ahmedabad after the body was entrusted to him upon identification he was asked to go to Godhra to get the certificate but after some pursuation the administration issued death certificate and he carried the body of his wife to the house.
Incidentally, a specific question to the effect as recorded in no. 51, as to how does he say that there was no post mortem effected, Sri Joshi replied that he knows it because he was present with the bodies when the bodies were taken out from the coach and he was present all the time when the bodies were lying on the flat surface near the coach and thereafter the bodies were put on the truck and taken to Ahmedabad. At Ahmedabad his wife’s body was given back to him and at no point of time the bodies were taken to any hospital and it is otherwise not possible to have any post mortem examination done in the open area and it would be wrong statement if it is stated that there was, in fact, a post mortem examination of his wife’s body – it has never taken place either at Godhra or at Ahmedabad.
Consistently, the statement of the passenger witness including that of Sri Hari Prasad Joshi that the smoke was coming from the guard side since there were very many people on the engine side he could crawl towards rear side of the door towards the guards cabin on the yard side. The door was closed but after Sri Joshi crawled near the door about 4 – 5 feet away from the door it was opened and he could feel a bit of fresh air which made him stand up and then he could come out of the smoke and thus saved himself and he was crawling he did not feel any heat or burning sensation. http://india.indymedia.org/content/2005/02/210171.shtml

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How difficult it was to extract any information from Govt. about Godhra victims - news reports --

NITISH YET TO GIVE NAMES OF GODHRA TRAIN VICTIMS Mamata calls Bengal bandh on 5 August.





Asia Africa Intelligence Wire
 | August 01, 2002 | Copyright




(From The Statesman (India))

Statesman News Service KOLKATA/ NEW DELHI, July 31. - Miss Mamata Banerjee today called a 24-hour Bangla bandh on 5 August, and said her party would decide on quitting the NDA on 13 August in Delhi. In Parliament, a united Opposition kept up the pressure on Mr Nitish Kumar, who again failed to reveal the names of Sabarmati Express passengers who had died in the Godhra train fire. The railways minister didn't even provide the list of passengers who had berths in the ill-fated S6 coach. This, the Opposition said, was "mystifying" since five months have already passed.

Miss Banerjee said the decision on 13 August will be a confirmation of the "mental preparation" that she had taken on severing ties with the NDA. If the Centre fails to redress her grievances this time, she may be forced to snap ties with the NDA for the second time. The West Bengal government will, however, oppose Miss Banerjee's bandh, acting chief minister Md Amin said today. The Left Front will also oppose the bandh, Mr Jyoti Basu said. The Front will organise a rally at Brigade Parade Ground, and take out a procession from there on 11 August.

In another effort to send a discreet message to New Delhi that she should not be taken for granted, Miss Banerjee said Trinamul MPs will not vote for Mr BS Shekhawat, NDA candidate, at the elections to the post of Vice-President on 12 August Instead, all Trinamul Congress MPs, MLAs and councillors will stage a dharna in front of the Prime Minister's residence that day to protest against his "surprising indifference" to her demands, which have by now been "watered down" to only the retention of Dhanbad division with Eastern Railway and the restoration of Katihar division to North Bengal. This "unanimous" decision was taken at today's meeting of the Trinamul all-India working committee, which was attended by all its MPs. The Trinamul had reportedly demanded an expert committee on the ER division as a face-saver, but this was turned down by BJP strategists who believed such a move will annoy Bihar and Jharkhand MPs.

In the Lok Sabha Mr Kumar said he wanted to release the list of passengers who had purchased tickets on the Sabarmati Express. The ministry had asked the local travelling ticket-checkers (TTCs) to furnish this list, he said, but they had reported back saying since the coach was "overcrowded" the details could not be verified. Railway sources, however, said there has never before been such an inordinate delay in publishing the passenger list after a tragedy.

A former Railway Board chairman said even if the official assumption that many victims were unreserved passengers is correct, this should not prevent Railways from producing the passenger chart of the compartment.

Mr Kumar, however, said only nine persons whose names had figured in the reservation chart could be identified from among the dead and injured. The coach was packed with rallyists, Mr Kumar said, adding he had ordered inspectors to be sent to the residences of those who were to travel to ascertain the facts. Miss Banerjee and senior party leaders decided to defer the decision over quitting the NDA after the intervention of two Union ministers and Mr Vijay Goel, MoS in the PMO. Mr Goel telephoned her this afternoon. But she made it categorical that her party's agitation will continue till 12 August. She did not relent in her criticism of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister today, saying she and her party had "grave doubts" if Mr Vajpayee is being "allowed to work independently". The Centre's decision is "illegal, arbitrary, unethical and undemocratic", she said. Her comments yesterday about the "PMO being hijacked" were iterated by Congress MP Mr Kamal Nath in the Lok Sabha today. Mr Nath compared Mr Vajpayee with Shah Jahan at the time of his imprisonment by his son. Mr Anil Biswas, CPI-M state secretary, criticised Miss Banerjee's decision to abstain from the Vice-Presidential vote, saying the party should vote with the Opposition if it really wanted to oppose the Cabinet decision.

Mr Jyoti Basu said the decision to oppose the bandh was taken as the Left Front considers the division of Eastern Railway not a Bengal-Bihar issue but one of "disintegration" of the country: "A bandh in Bengal will trigger a spate of bandhs in Bihar, Jharkhand ... there will be chaos. The Trinamul is devoid of principles and ideology. A bandh will only give parochialism a fillip. The only way to reverse the disastrous decision is to dislodge the NDA through a nationwide movement," he said.

SUCI in a fix: The SUCI is among the first to feel the pinch of the bandh call. The day of the bandh coincides with the death anniv-ersary of its founder, to commemorate which the SUCI had made plans days in advance.