New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (Mar 15, 2004) asked the Centre to identify key witnesses in the nine Gujarat riot cases, trial in which have been stayed on its orders, for the purpose of making arrangements of their security by Central police forces like Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

This order was passed by a Bench comprising Chief Justice V N Khare, Justice S B Sinha and Justice S H Kapadia on a petition filed by Citizens for Justice and Peace, which recounted fear of insecurity among the witnesses.

Responding to the earlier order of the court exhorting the Centre to come forward to extend security to victims of cases pertaining to Human Rights violation, solicitor general Kriti Raval submitted that there were 1,499 witnesses in the nine riot cases and it would be impossible for Central forces to provide security to all.

As the Gujarat Government counsel additional solicitor general Mukul Rohtagi pointed out that security had been given to most of the witnesses, Raval said it was a sensitive issue as the law and order is a State subject.

Reiterating that the Centre was not averse to providing security through Central forces to key witnesses in the riot cases, he sought three weeks' time for their identification. However, the court asked him to report back to the court on the issue by April 2.

The court also noted that certain activists like Teesta Shetalvad, who through their NGOs were helping the riot victims, needed such protection.