Naroda Patia victim breaks down in court

A victim of the 2002 post-Godhra riots, who lost her three minor children to communal flames, broke down in an open court on Thursday while recounting the horrific incident.

Rafiqan Bano, a resident of Jawahar Nagar near Naroda Patia, lost two daughters, Rukhsana and Afsana, and a son Samsad, to the pogrom that ensued after the Sabarmati Express carnage. Deposing before the designated court of judge Jyotsnaben Yagnik, Bano recounted how her daughters were burnt alive by one Ramila Rathod, Geeta Rathod, Guddu Chhara and Tinyo Marathi on February 28, 2002.

Bano said that on the day of the incident, her elder daughter Zarina, who had gone out for some work, returned and informed them that a large crowd had gathered near Noorani Masjid, and the rioters were targeting houses and burning vehicles outside the Masjid. When the situation worsened in the afternoon, Bano, along with her children and other Muslim members, left their house to take refuge in the nearby SRP quarters.

However, despite pleading with the SRP security, Bano and the other Muslims were not allowed to enter the quarters. As the group moved towards the Gopinath society, they were attacked by rioters armed with sharp weapons, petrol bombs and other inflammable material.

Bano recounted that a mob led by Guddu Chhara and Tinyo Marathi, also responsible for killing her daughters, forced her son Samsad to consume petrol and then threw him into the fire.