Ahmedabad: An alarming fact about Gujarat policemen being 'pressurised' by senior political leaders of the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) to 'not take action' against VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) leaders named in FIR's emerged during the deposition of a senior police officer before Godhra inquiry commission.

During his cross-examination by advocate Mukul Sinha, former chief of State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) R B Sreekumar admitted before the two-man inquiry panel, probing the Godhra-train carnage and its aftermath, that "several lower rung officers had named the political leaders who were pressurising them to go soft on investigations of cases in which names of VHP, Bajrang Dal leaders were mentioned in FIR."

However, Sreekumar refused to divulge the names of the political leaders who pressurised the police officer and replied when asked if he would name them, "I knew the names of these politicians but will not disclose them as the identity of the source will be protected."

He, however, admitted that it was only after his report on the handling of post-Godhra cases, that was sent to all senior officers and also the additional chief secretary (Home), and after K P S Gill was called to the State, did the communal frenzy brought under control.

He also agreed that it was only after Gill intervened those senior policemen, including Ahmedabad city police commissioner P C Pande was transferred.

Sreekumar was appointed as the IB chief on April 9, 2002 in place of additional director general (IB) G C Raigar.

The State Government's poor handling of intelligence inputs and contradictory statements of former Director General of Police K Chakravarthy also cropped up during the deposition when Sreekumar admitted "the SIB did get information from the Western Railway police about the return of Kar Sevaks from Ayodhya on February 26.

"The SIB did get a fax message from Western Railway police about the return of a group of Karsevaks on February 26 who had left for Ayodhya from Mehsana. I know this as per records but cannot say more on what action was taken based on this report, as I was not the official in charge. Only my predecessor can comment on it," Sreekumar said.

What is strange is that none of the other police officers that deposed before had admitted that the Western Railway police conveyed such a message and infact kept passing the responsibility to the Uttar Pradesh police.

Infact, the superintendent of police, Lucknow did send another specific message about Karsevaks returning but it reached the SIB only on February 28, a day after the Godhra train carnage.