Protect witnesses: apex court to SIT

The apex court’s direction on Friday mentions that if required the key witnesses in the Godhara riots cases will have to be provided police protection. Since police protection has already been provided to most of the key witnesses, if required the protection will be increased.

“We have named 10 witnesses from Naroda-Patia who will require more police protection as the threat perceptions for them are increasing as the SIT investigation has proceeded,” a community leader Nasir Khan alias Masterji told DNA.

So far, the city police has been providing protection to the witnesses, sources said, adding that if more personnel are needed for this purpose, the central government will provide central para-military forces.

SIT has received applications wherein the witnesses have demanded more police protection. “We are scrutinising and analysing the threat perception of the witnesses and, if required, we will provide them more protection,” member, SIT, Geeta Johri told DNA.

“The protection needs to be enhanced, as the threat will increase when the case proceed in fast-track courts,” said Dildar Umrao, the key witness in the case in which Maya Kodnani has been arrested. Umrao has been provided one constable for protection, but is not happy with the level of security.

“Quite often, the guard provided to the witness does not report or his attendance is highly irregular,” Umrao said.