Special courts for Gujarat riots

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India's Supreme Court has ordered the establishment of five special courts to try cases related to communal riots in the state of Gujarat in 2002.

The fast-track courts, which will hold daily hearings, will be set up in Ahmedabad, Anand, Sabarkanta, Mehsana and Gulbarg districts.

Activists and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) wanted the trial to be held outside Gujarat.

The trial was halted in 2003 after allegations of witness intimidation.

More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died in the riots which began after 60 Hindus died in a fire on a train.

The cause of the fire has never been clearly established.

Hindu groups alleged that it was started by Muslim protesters, but an earlier inquiry said it was an accident.

'Best Bakery case'

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat, ruled on several petitions filed by the NHRC and various non-governmental organisations and riot victims.

The court constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on 24 March last year to inquire into the riot cases.

Mr Modi has always denied wrongdoing

The court said it decided to set up the fast-track courts on the basis of the recommendations made by the probe team.

The NHRC and activists wanted the cases transferred out of Gujarat in 2003 after a court in the state acquitted 21 men accused in what is known as the "Best Bakery case".

Fourteen people, including 12 Muslims, died in the arson attack on the Best Bakery in the city of Baroda, in Gujarat.

In 2004, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial in the case and in 2006, nine people were finally convicted and sentenced for life in jail.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered that the role of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a leading member of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), should be investigated.

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.

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.