Ahmedabad: Perhaps for the first time, a post-Godhra communal riot victim from the worst-affected Naroda area, on October 1 narrated to the two-man probe panel about violence that occurred in the area on February 27, 2002, the day when Godhra train carnage took place.

All the riot victims/witnesses from Naroda area have so far narrated incidents of communal frenzy that took place on February 28 and onwards.

Deposing before Justice (retired) G T Nanavati and Justice (retired) K G Shah of the two-man panel, the victim Mohammad Sharif Mallik alleged that a man in his locality was stabbed, while his friend's house was torched on February 27.

Mallik also told the commission that he saw Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Naroda Dr Mayaben Kodnani, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Jaideep Patel making inflammatory speeches to an armed mob on the morning of February 28 2002.

Mallik said he had seen Kodnani and Patel standing amidst the mob for about three to four minutes, after which the mobs went on a rampage in their Muslim locality.

Claiming violence on February 27 night, he said around 10 pm, he heard of an incident where one Babubhai Pathan was stabbed to death, following which the whole locality stayed awake for the entire night, fearing more trouble.

He said at around midnight, Asif, a friend of his came to him in a hurry and said some person had set ablaze his (Asif) house by throwing petrol and burning rags on to it.

PTI