Ahmedabad: The two-man Inquiry Commission, probing Godhra train carnage and its aftermath today (Dec 11, 2003) ordered Gujarat police, VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) to "keep away" from several riot witness/victims from Vatva area till their cross-examination was completed by the prosecution.

Justice (retd) G T Nanavati and Justice (retd) K G Shah of the two-man Commission is recording the depositions of 11 witnesses from Vatva today, whose names were given to them in a "sealed cover" by advocate Mukul Sinha.

The Commission also adjourned the cross-examination of these witnesses after State Government's special counsel Arvind Pandya submitted that, "as the identity and addresses of these witnesses were kept confidential and were revealed only today, the prosecution is not in position to effectively cross- examine them."

Pandya submitted that the prosecution must get "adequate time to gather facts and legal papers pertaining to the witnesses".

Sinha, however, opposed the adjournment expressing apprehension that Government agencies, VHP and BJP may try to "pressurise these witnesses", since names of several were disclosed during the recording of their deposition today.

Justice Nanavati and Justice Shah, however, ordered that the agencies, VHP and BJP must not try to contact them or pressurise them directly or indirectly in the period from the date of adjournment till cross- examination is completed.

"If this is done, the Commission will take a serious note of it and order appropriate action against them," they said.

PTI