Ahmedabad, July 16: The Nanavati Commission, set up to investigate the Gujarat riots following the Godhra incident, has begun its hearing here from today. The commission came under some flak during its earlier hearings in Vadodara for being toothless and unable to protect witnesses. But Justice Nanavati assured today that the commission will protect the identity and life of any witness, who steps forward to speak the truth.

In the week-long proceedings all hearings will be restricted to cases from west Ahmedabad. Cases related to areas under nine police stations will be heard.
However, the cases of Naroda Patia and Gulbarg society will not be covered.

Instead the hearings will relate to those areas where the number of deaths was relatively less but where loss of property and cases of arson were the highest during the riots.
As a result organisations working with the victims of Naroda Patia and Gulbarg are angry that these cases are not being heard. They are expected to put in an application to the Nanavati Commission in this regard.

Bureau Report