Ahmedabad:
The cluster of houses in Gulbarg Housing Society is quiet. There are virtually no families that live here anymore.
Till February, 2002, this was a mainly Muslim neighbourhood. From small-time mechanics to politicians, the residents of Gulbarg Society kept largely to themselves.
And then, on February 28, 2002, the colony blazed its way into India's consciousness.
By noon, angry rioters entered the society. And got to work. By the evening, close to 70 people had been killed, most of them Muslim, most of them set on fire.
Imtiyaz Pathan watched the horrors of that day unfold with his old parents. Near him lived former Congress Member of Parliament, Ehsan Jafri and his wife, Zakiya. Imtiyaz has testified that he saw a desperate Jafri trying to stop the communal carnage.
Outside the remains of Jafri's home, where Jafri was set on fire in front of his wife, Imtiyaz tells NDTV, "Ehsan Jafri called all big leaders of Congress other leaders who were in touch with him. He even called top police officers. He called up Narendra Modi as well but he did not send any help immediately. Until 4.30 pm in the evening no one came for help."
NDTV: Do you know for sure he called Narendra Modi?
Imtiyaz's more damaging testimony has been that Jafri called Narendra Modi. We ask him again if he's sure about this.
"He told me that he called Narendra Modi. Instead of sending help Modi abused him. These were his last words to me. He lost all hope and ran towards the kitchen. There was no hope left as the Chief Minister of the state himself refused help and abused him. (Read: Nothing to apologise for in Gujarat riots: Modi)
He was convinced the attack was pre-planned. He went up to the mob and pleaded with them to kill him, but spare the women and children."
It's Jafri's wife, Zakiya, who complained in court that Modi along with others in his then government should be tried for conspiracy.
On the basis of her complaint, Modi has been summoned to explain his role on March 21 to a panel appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate the Gujarat riots. (Read: Modi summoned by Supreme Court panel)
"I have suffered a lot. How can I put in words what I had to go through? Life might have returned to normalcy, but could you imagine how I survived that day, what I saw, how I left home at 7 pm and spent the whole night outside the Police Commissioner's house. Can I ever forget that night? Tell me?" asks Zakiya, who's old and frail.
In the 24 hour riot at Gulbarg Society, there was little mercy shown to anyone. Women were not spared; children were killed.
Imtiyaz lost his mother. Roopa Modi's 14-year-old son went missing.
Eight years later, the inquiry into the massacre is near completion, says RK Raghavan, who's heading it. After Modi's questioning, he says, he will submit his report to the Supreme Court. (Watch: Test of brand Modi)
For the families of those who died in Gulbarg Society, there is little expectation of justice anymore. There is a meager sense of solace, however, in knowing that those who may have been able to save them, will now have to explain why they didn't. (Watch: SIT probe just a formality: Riots victim)
"I'm tired of answering the questions directed towards me. I've grown old and cannot recollect facts distinctly. However, it pleases me that he (Modi) is going to answer these questions and I'm going to listen very intently to him,'' says Zakiya Jaffri. (Watch: Modi summoned for questioning in riots case: SIT Chief)
Till February, 2002, this was a mainly Muslim neighbourhood. From small-time mechanics to politicians, the residents of Gulbarg Society kept largely to themselves.
And then, on February 28, 2002, the colony blazed its way into India's consciousness.
By noon, angry rioters entered the society. And got to work. By the evening, close to 70 people had been killed, most of them Muslim, most of them set on fire.
Imtiyaz Pathan watched the horrors of that day unfold with his old parents. Near him lived former Congress Member of Parliament, Ehsan Jafri and his wife, Zakiya. Imtiyaz has testified that he saw a desperate Jafri trying to stop the communal carnage.
Outside the remains of Jafri's home, where Jafri was set on fire in front of his wife, Imtiyaz tells NDTV, "Ehsan Jafri called all big leaders of Congress other leaders who were in touch with him. He even called top police officers. He called up Narendra Modi as well but he did not send any help immediately. Until 4.30 pm in the evening no one came for help."
NDTV: Do you know for sure he called Narendra Modi?
Imtiyaz's more damaging testimony has been that Jafri called Narendra Modi. We ask him again if he's sure about this.
"He told me that he called Narendra Modi. Instead of sending help Modi abused him. These were his last words to me. He lost all hope and ran towards the kitchen. There was no hope left as the Chief Minister of the state himself refused help and abused him. (Read: Nothing to apologise for in Gujarat riots: Modi)
He was convinced the attack was pre-planned. He went up to the mob and pleaded with them to kill him, but spare the women and children."
It's Jafri's wife, Zakiya, who complained in court that Modi along with others in his then government should be tried for conspiracy.
On the basis of her complaint, Modi has been summoned to explain his role on March 21 to a panel appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate the Gujarat riots. (Read: Modi summoned by Supreme Court panel)
"I have suffered a lot. How can I put in words what I had to go through? Life might have returned to normalcy, but could you imagine how I survived that day, what I saw, how I left home at 7 pm and spent the whole night outside the Police Commissioner's house. Can I ever forget that night? Tell me?" asks Zakiya, who's old and frail.
In the 24 hour riot at Gulbarg Society, there was little mercy shown to anyone. Women were not spared; children were killed.
Imtiyaz lost his mother. Roopa Modi's 14-year-old son went missing.
Eight years later, the inquiry into the massacre is near completion, says RK Raghavan, who's heading it. After Modi's questioning, he says, he will submit his report to the Supreme Court. (Watch: Test of brand Modi)
For the families of those who died in Gulbarg Society, there is little expectation of justice anymore. There is a meager sense of solace, however, in knowing that those who may have been able to save them, will now have to explain why they didn't. (Watch: SIT probe just a formality: Riots victim)
"I'm tired of answering the questions directed towards me. I've grown old and cannot recollect facts distinctly. However, it pleases me that he (Modi) is going to answer these questions and I'm going to listen very intently to him,'' says Zakiya Jaffri. (Watch: Modi summoned for questioning in riots case: SIT Chief)
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