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Godhra Revisited

It’s been nearly nine years since the burning of coach S-6 of Sabarmati Express in this town. On the judgment day, Team DNA takes you to the now infamous places in Godhra which the prosecution claims were connected to the conspiracy of an attack

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Godhra Railway Station
The railway station has gone into the annals of Gujarat history. The place has played a crucial role in changing the dynamics of Gujarat's politics and society. The station lies bang in the middle of a Muslim dominated area. The morning of February 27, 2002 was like any other day - until the Sabarmati Express train, loaded with Karsevaks of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who were coming from Ayodhya, rolled in.

After the train stopped at the platform, slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram' rent the air. Suddenly there was a violent scuffle between a hawker and a Karsevak on the platform and soon after that the station witnessed one of the darkest events in the history of mankind, which was followed by similar, despicable acts throughout the state.

S-6 coach
Though it is claimed that it is difficult to say what had exactly transpired at the Godhra Railway Station on that day, the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express could have revealed everything, if only it could talk! However, such biographies of inanimate things are limited only to the essays  and school examinations. The coach, which still lies in the yard of the station, has nothing much to reveal now, even after several visits by a number of investigating agencies. Many of the agencies have formed various theories and have had differences of opinions about what happened.

Aman Guest House
This guest house is the place where the seeds of the entire conspiracy are believed to have been sown. As per the chargesheet of the case, on the night of February 26, 2002 Salim Haji Badam alias Salim Panwala, had called Jabir Bin Yamin to room No. 8 of the guest house, which is owned by another accused, Abdul Razak Kurkur. The key conspirators reportedly had discussed the whole plan in that room. Moreover, a van with containers full of petrol was kept near the guest house.

Kalabhai Petrol Pump
Salim Panwala, Salim Jarda, Shaukat Ehmad Charkha alias Lalu, Sheeraj Bala and Jabir Bin Yamin went to bring petrol in the 20-litre containers in a green coloured loading rickshaw and Kurkur accompanied them in his M-80 Moped from Kalabhai's Petrol Pump. The accused had loaded the containers and parked the tempo behind the guest house. Meanwhile, the other accused, Imran Ahmed Bhatuk alias Sheru, Hasan Ahmed Charkha and Mehboob Khalid Chanda arrived near the tempo and unloaded the vehicle of its petrol at Kurkur's house.

Signal Falia
Signal Falia is a densely populated predominantly Muslim area. Mehboob Latika, another accused, had run to the locality and shouted and called out to the people. The residents of this locality had gathered near the parcel office of the Godhra Railway Station in huge numbers and attacked the S-6 and S-7 coaches of the Sabarmati Express with stones and other weapons. This locality is populated by the Ganchi community who are involved in petty businesses and work around the railway station.

‘A’ Cabin
Hardly one km away from the platform, 'A' Cabin was the place where the Sabarmati Express was stopped by someone pulling the chain. The cabin was the scene of the ghastly work of the mob. The accused, namely Maheboob Yakub Meetha alias Popa, Maheboob Khalid Chanda, Ayub Abdul Gani Patalia, Yunus Ghadiali, Kadir Abdul Gani Patalia, Anwar Abdul Kalandar, Anwar Mahammad Meda alias Balan and Sikandar had tried to break the windows of coach S-2 and set fire to the coach from outside.

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