Special cell to handle riots cases

MUMBAI: The Mumbai police on Friday said a central cell, headed by a DIG rank official, would be formed to look into the cases relating to the 1992-93 Mumbai riots that followed the Babri Masjid demolition.

A senior police official said all zonal DCPs and ACPs have been asked to monitor the cases pending in the courts while DCPs and additional CPs have been asked to study the court’s orders so that appeals can be filed against those who were acquitted.

“Apart from the above two things, the special cell will also handle the court cases and the rejoinders, which will be sent by the court regarding individual cases,” he said.

The Supreme Court had earlier this month asked an activist group led by Congress MLA Naseem Khan, who had petitioned it alleging inaction by the state government in the cases, to file a joint affidavit in six weeks detailing the specific instances of lapses reportedly committed by the government.

The affidavit should also contain details of the number of cases registered, specific cases not registered despite complaints, discharge of accused persons, failure in prosecution and any other glaring lapses.