Ahmedabad: Many minority community witnesses on September 23 told the two-member riot panel that timely arrival of police in Ramol area on the outskirt of the city prevented a huge armed mob of Hindus from attacking Muslim residents on February 28 2002 during the post-Godhra communal riots.

Deposing before the riot inquiry panel, comprising Justice (retd) G T Nanavati and Justice (retd) K G Shah, Dr Ismail Mansuri, a resident of Islamabad society, said that huge mob from nearby Hindu dominated society tried to attack their locality having 15,000 people, but police arrived on time and prevented a massacre.

However, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) refused to help them inspite of strong request, Dr Mansuri added.

Another witness Abdullah Miya Saiyed told the commission that on February 28 last year a huge armed mob comprising Bajrang Dal activists and other people wearing saffron head bands were coming to attack their locality but police came on time, opened fired and drove the mob away.

PTI