Ahmedabad, July 18: In the first deposition by a minority community victim before the Nanavati Commission probing post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat, a doctor told the panel that the presence of Home Minister Haren Pandya "had encouraged a violent and armed mob in Paldi area on February 28, 2002."
"It was his (Pandya's) presence which "instigated the rioters even more," Dr Yunus Mohammed Usman Bhavnagari, a dentist staying at the Paldi area here, told the commission members Justice (Retd) G T Nanavati and Justice (Retd) K G Shah on Thursday.

He also said he was "forced" to open fire at the rampaging mob which shot his son Dr Amir Bhavnagari in the chest from outside his house.

Several policemen were also present in the mob, he said adding "police had not come to our rescue even after frantic efforts to call them for over three and half hours were made". The doctor's wife, son and other relatives also told the commission that their house in Delite Flats in Paldi was set ablaze by the errant mob, which also torched few shops and other flats.

Statements of people from Vejalpur area were being recorded today, but Bhavnagri, a resident of Paldi area was the first to appear after he had to return yesterday as the commission had closed by the time he had come to depose.

Justice Nanavati and Justice Shah both assured the Bhavnagri family, especially an emotionally overcome Tasneem Bhavnagri, wife of Yunus, who said that "they still lived in fear and threat", that everything in the commission's power would be done. Bureau Report