Court orders new Gujarat inquiry

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The Supreme Court in India has ordered a new investigation into communal riots in the state of Gujarat in 2002.

The violence killed more than 1,000 people, most of them Muslims.

The court specified that the role of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a leading member of the Hindu nationalist BJP, should be investigated.

A two-member panel of judges ordered a special investigation team to look into the killings, and report back within three months.

'Resign'

The BBC's Chris Morris in Ahmedabad says the announcement by the Supreme Court is not good news for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the middle of an election campaign.

Mr Modi has always denied wrongdoing

It will be used by their critics to warn voters that India's main opposition party cannot be trusted to preserve communal harmony in this country, our correspondent says.

Some other observers, however, say the move may encourage more Hindus to support Mr Modi.

In particular the team has been told to investigate the murder of a senior Muslim politician from the Congress party, Ehsan Jafri, and nine other specific cases.

The court was acting on a petition filed by Mr Jafri's widow.

Narendra Modi is one of more than 60 people who have been named as co-accused.

In the past the Supreme Court has criticised the government of Gujarat for failing to protect its Muslim citizens.

In response to the court order, a spokesman for the Congress party called on Mr Modi, one of the BJP's leading election campaigners, to resign as chief minister.

The violence in Gujarat began after 60 Hindus died in a fire on a train. It has never been clear whether the fire was started by Muslim protesters or whether it was an accident.

Mr Modi's supporters have always said he could have done little under the circumstances to prevent the violence.

Last year, a commission of inquiry set up by the state government exonerated Mr Modi over the riots.