New prosecutors appointed in Dipda Darwaja massacre case

Senior criminal lawyer Mukesh Brahmbhatt and Suresh Thakur have been appointed as the special public prosecutors (SPPs) for the Dipda Darwaja massacre case. The lawyers appointment were made by Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 15 after PR Agarwal and his assistant Hansa Jain resigned from the post following objections made by victims in the case. Eleven people belonging to the Muslim community were killed on Feb 28, 2002 at Dipda Darwaja, Mehsana.

SIT has lodged a case against 85 accused including former BJP MLA Prahlad Gosa and then municipal councillor Dahya Patel. Mohammad Iqbal Baloch, the complainant in the incident, had earlier moved an application before the designated court to remove PR Agrawal as SPP.  Baloch's counsel Ayaz Sheikh had alleged that SPPs were not properly presenting the case.