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Last Updated: Sunday, 17 August, 2003, 14:39 GMT 15:39 UK
Gujarat leader faces UK protests
Protest placard
People protested outside Wembley Conference Centre
The families of three British Muslims believed to have been killed in sectarian violence in India last year are urging the government in Delhi to investigate their deaths.

Relatives of the Britons joined a small protest outside the Wembley Conference Centre in north London on Sunday afternoon where Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Gujarat state, gave a speech.

Muslims from Bolton, Birmingham and Leicester were expected to demonstrate in order to highlight sectarian attacks by Hindu extremists in India.

At least 1,000 people, mainly Muslims, were killed in communal riots in Gujarat state in India last year.

Independent groups put the figure at closer to 2,000.

Among them are thought to have been the three British Muslims from Yorkshire, although it has never been confirmed that the remains of two of them were found.

Protesters claim the government of Mr Modi - a hardline Hindu politician - failed to protect Muslims against the attacks.

He strongly denies complicity in the violence.

Retaliatory attacks

The riots began after a train carrying Hindu activists was torched in Godhra, Gujurat, in February last year and 58 Hindus died.

Their deaths sparked retaliatory attacks in the state which neighbours Pakistan.

Saeed Dawood
We just want to know what's happened, who's done it, and why it's happened
Bilal Dawood, brother of Saeed Dawood
Four Muslims from Yorkshire - Mohammed Aswat Nallabhai, Saeed Dawood, Shakil Dawood, and Imran Dawood - were attacked in their jeep by a group of Hindu extremists.

The attackers murdered the local driver and torched the vehicle when they discovered the men were Muslims.

The Britons, who were on holiday in India, tried to escape but were attacked by the mob.

Mr Nallabhai and Imran Dawood were taken to hospital, where Mr Nallabhai died.

Imran Dawood survived, but the fate of Saeed Dawood and Shakil Dawood - who were brothers - has never been determined.

'What happened?'

Bilal Dawood, brother to Saeed and Shakil, said he wanted to send a message to Mr Modi.

"We just want a proper investigation or a reinvestigation to happen," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"We just want to know what's happened, who's done it, and why it's happened, and the right justice process to be followed.

"Modi is in charge of Gujurat state, so... he is ultimately liable for [these deaths].

"If the UK police, [Home Secretary[ Jack Straw and [Prime Minister] Tony Blair say... they are willing to send Scotland Yard and Yorkshire police out there to assist, I don't know why Modi and his counterparts are unwilling to take those options on."

Campaigners had appealed to the Home Office not to allow Mr Modi a visa but the Home Office said it had no grounds for such a refusal.





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SEE ALSO:
Family's hopes for missing Britons
03 Mar 02  |  England
Gujarat survivor rebuilds his life
07 Aug 03  |  South Asia


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