Court issues summons to two British envoys in 2002 Godhra riot case

AHMEDABAD: A special court, hearing a post-Godhra riot case where four persons including three British nationals were killed in Gujarat's Sabarkantha district, has summoned two former British envoys to depose before it through video conferencing on November 23.

Special judge Geeta Gopi of Sabarkantha court issued summons to former Deputy British High Commissioners to India -- Ian Reakes and Howard Parkinson -- asking them to depose before the court via video conferencing next month.

The summons were issued after the British government granted permission to the court to examine the envoys in the case, last month.

The examination of former British envoys is taking place on an application filed by original complainant and prime witness in the case, Imran Dawood, a British national himself who had survived the attack on him and others near Prantij in Sabarkantha.

The special investigation team (SIT) probing the case has also given its consent that the duo be examined as prosecution witnesses, said Dawood's counsel A M Malek.

Three British nationals--Saeed Dawood, Mohammed Aswat Nallabhai, Shakil Dawood-- and their Gujarati driver Yusuf Sulaiman were burnt to death during the post-Godhra violence on National Highway No.8 near Prantij in Sabarkantha on February 28, 2002.

Shakil's body was not found following which after a period of seven years, he was declared dead.