Dec
30
Forensic Documentary on Godhra Fire
December 30, 2003 | Comments Off on Forensic Documentary on Godhra Fire
The Telegraph reported yesterday on a forensic documentary that demonstrated that the fire on the Sabarmati Express at Godhra, on February 25, 2002, was not a conspiracy, as alleged by the BJP in its justifications of the subsequent carnage against Muslims. Dr V. Sehgal, former director, Central Forensic Science Laboratory, and a member of Interpol, also showed how the fire started from inside the train, not from petrol allegedly thrown into the train, as the Gujarat prosecution has alleged:
After examining the materials collected from S6, the forensic experts “are now certain that the fire was caused by petrol”, says the film. Sehgal explains how throwing petrol from outside the compartment was not possible, an aspect corroborated by a fire-fighter from Godhra. Standing near the burnt compartment, Sehgal shows there was “no fire on the tracks” to prove his point that petrol could not have been thrown from outside.
In another frame, it shows how the “inside part of the vestibule” (connecting S5 and S6) was more charred than its outside surface to “prove” Sehgal’s point that the fire emanated from inside and that the petrol was “possibly stored inside”.
The first forensic report making similar conclusions was released in the summer of 2002. Despite this, Modi continues to insist that the fire was a pre-planned attack and the government has charged the 123 accused under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
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