SIT seeks Teesta’s evidence on Jafri plea

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has asked Teesta Setalvad, activist and member of Citizens of Justice and Peace (CJP), to remain present before it during its scrutiny of the complaint filed in the Supreme Court accusing 64 people, including Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, of abetting the post-Godhra riots of 2002.

Setalvad said she had collected evidence in connection with the riots, which she wanted to submit to the SIT. “I have been asked by the SIT to remain present before it anytime this week. I will carry along the set of evidence,” she said.

The complaint had been filed by Jakia Jafri, the widow of former MP Ahesan Jafri, who was slain during the riots. In her complaint, she accused Modi as well as ministers of state, bureaucrats and police officials of being party to the 2002 riots and attacks on the minority community.

A source in the SIT confirmed that Setalvad’s presence had been requested in connection with the aforementioned complaint.
Meanwhile, the SIT will soon launch a helpline as part of its witness protection system. “Witness protection is one of the primary concerns of the SIT and we are in the process of handling it properly,” the SIT source said. “We will have landline and mobile phones, which will be operative round the clock.”

The SIT has also listed the exact number of personnel required for witness protection. “We will soon finalise the number of personnel to demand from the central government,” the source said.