PRESS RELEASE
Mr Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister for the Indian State of Gujarat and thirteen other individuals including senior high ranking government officials and police officers are now facing serious charges of Genocide, Torture and Crimes against Humanity.
The Civil Suit for damages was filed at a Gujarat District Court, by the British based Dawood family on behalf of their relatives who were violently attacked and murdered during the Gujarat carnage two years ago. The case may lead to further charges being filed in international courts at a future date.
Such legal action against senior political and government officials is unprecedented in Indian legal history. The charges will mean that the officials will face huge compensation claims and the case will highlight the specific roles played by state officials in the Gujarat Carnage.
The scale of attacks on Indian Muslims during the period has been described as a highly organised and systematic Genocide that claimed thousands of innocent lives. Hundreds of Muslim women are known to have been brutally raped and over two hundred thousand people were displaced from their homes and businesses.
Amongst those targeted were the British nationals. In February 2002, whilst returning from the Taj Mahal, the vehicle carrying the four British tourists, was stopped on the main highway into Gujarat, by a well organised roadblock set up by hindu extremists. The roadblock was in close proximity to local police services and once the vehicle had been stopped Mohamed Aswat, Sakil Dawood, Saeed Dawood, Imran Dawood and Yusuf Palagar, an Indian national, were then set upon by the mob for being Muslims. Only 18 year old, Imran Dawood, survived the attacked.
All senior public figures listed in the claim, formed a "hierarchy of command in Gujarat qua the Prantij Police Station and are therefore responsible not only for their own acts as agents of the State that caused and facilitated the violation of rights but also for the acts of non-state players", such as those individuals directly responsible for the murder of the Dawood relatives. Apart from Mr Modi, other senior officials include Mr Gordhonbhai Pragjibahi Zadaphia (the Home Minister of the State of Gujarat); Mr Ashok Narayan ( the Home Minister of the State of Gujarat) ; Mr K.Chakravarty (Director General of Police of the State of Gujarat) ; Mr Amitabh Pathak (Inspector General of Police of the State of Gujarat.); Mr N. D. Solanki (the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dist. Sabarkantha, Gujara).; and Mr D. K. Vankar (the Inspector of Police, Prantij Police Station, Dist. Sabarkantha, Gujarat). Bracket designations indicate positions held by individual at the material time.
The lengthy and highly detailed documentation lodged in Court today also holds the Chief Minister responsible "for the acts of commission and omission committed by his officers in the command structure" for the systematic gruesome targeted pattern of destruction of the Muslim community that clearly "constitute actionable wrongs of genocide, torture and crimes and against humanity and violation of the fundamental rights of life and liberty".
The perception of India, will be under enormous scrutiny as a result of these charges. The case has already been the focus of an adjournment debate in the British Parliament and both the British Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw have expressed 'deep concern' at the circumstances in which the British Citizens were murdered and a lack of any serious investigation thereafter.
Yusuf Dawood, brother of one of the British victims stated, "We have all been traumatised by the loss of our loved ones, in particular; the circumstances have made it very difficult to come to terms with the tragedy. It is hoped that by pursuing the culprits and those that have organised the Genocide, the deaths of our loved ones will not be in vain. We should never forget the scale of these crimes and no one should rest until justice has been done."
Imran Khan, an eminent British civil rights lawyer who represents the family said, "Given the existing circumstances in Gujarat, the family has been forced to bring this legal action, a first step to holding those responsible for murder and genocide to account. We now hope that the Courts in India will allow our action to proceed without placing any unnecessary obstacles in its way".
Suresh Grover, the Dawood Family Spokesperson, said, "We know from experience that obtaining justice is never easy and rarely achieved but this unprecedented legal action achieved through joint work in India and the UK will not only galvanise international public support for the Dawood family but also offer hope for those victims living in fear in Gujarat today".
For further information contact:
Suresh Grover on 00 44 (0) 208 8843 2333 (Office) or 00 44 (0)7958 174451;
sgrover@monitoring-group.co.uk
Imran Khan at Imran Khan and Partners on 00 44 (0)20 7636 6314 (Office) or 00 44 (0)7973 324526
Yusuf Dawood on 00 44 (0) 7977 924643 - ymsdawood@hotmail.com