"Concerned Citizens Tribunal Gujarat 2002" starts Public Hearing in Ahmedabad from May 2 A Concerned Citizens Tribunal consisting of retired judges and prominent citizens from different walks of life will examine and investigate the incident of arson at Godhra and the subsequent statewide violence that took lives, destroyed property and attacked cultural symbols and places of worship of sections of the population.

The Tribunal will sit for a fortnight beginning May 2 and conduct it's hearings in three cities of the violence- ridden state. Headed by Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, the tribunal includes Justice P.B.Sawant, Justice Kuldip Singh, Justice Hosbet Suresh, Justice Rajinder Sachar, K G Kannabiran, Ghanshyam Shah, Prabhash Joshi, Tanika Sarkar Aruna Roy and others. The interim report will be released in Ahmedabad on May 15.

Terms of Reference of the tribunal:

1. Investigation into the fallout of the Ramjanmabhoomi Movement that includes the demolition of the Babri Masjid and atmosphere and incidents in Gujarat thereafter

2. Investigation into the political policies followed by the BJP government since it assumed power in Gujarat in February 1998, a period that in which it instituted political, social and economic measures/steps/policies in respect of religious minorities.

3. Investigation into the facts of the incidents and circumstances behind the Godhra massacre on February 27, 02 and whether or not the Godhra incident was pre-planned and guided by a foreign hand

4. Investigation into the cause of violence from 27-2-2002 in Gujarat including

a) a detailed investigation through examination of evidence of some of the worst massacres that took place in Gujarat in 2002

b) the role played by media in either stoking or controlling violence and feeling of ill-will amongst communities, violating both the Indian Constitution and penal law

c) the pattern of mobilisation and arms training by groups

d) the role of the state executive, government, administration in following the law of the land including Indian Constitution and Indian Penal Code

e) the role of the Law and Order Machinery - the state police - in pre-empting, containing and controlling damage to life and property and ensuring the maintenance of law and order

f) the extent of damage to lives and dignity of persons, along with a detailed examination of property loss and damage linked critically to the issue of reparation.

g) the extent of destruction of cultural symbols and places of worship.

5. The investigation must probe the adequacy of the relief and rehabilitation measures taken by the state government consequent upon the loss of life and property from February 27, 2002 onwards

6. The investigation into the probity with which the state government, controlled the violence and protected the life of citizens; took measures --preventive and otherwise once the violence was unleashed-- and investigated the cases of crime and launched steps for the for the punishment of the guilty.

7. The investigation into the existence of groups and organisations, their mission statements, constitutions and modus operandi (detailed activities) that may be, in effect un-Constitutional, who openly espouse the cult of violence and who are alleged to be in the forefront of verbal provocation and exoneration of acts of violence

8. Suggestion of concrete and comprehensive measures related to institutions (state-government, judiciary and law and order machinery), media and others that should be taken to prevent outbreaks of such violence in future.