'No conspiracy' in Godhra attack

By Nagender Sharma
BBC News, Delhi

Fifty-eight Hindu activists were killed in the attack

An inquiry into the alleged firebombing of a train in India's Gujarat state has recommended dropping terror charges against suspects, the BBC has learned.

The February 2002 blaze claimed the lives of 58 Hindus and sparked religious riots in which at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.

The inquiry found no evidence of a terrorist conspiracy, an official said.

Dozens of suspects were held in Godhra under controversial anti-terrorist laws which have now been repealed.

'Provocation'

The three-member committee, headed by a retired high court judge, was set up by the Congress-led government last year.

It has submitted its report to the federal Home Ministry as well as the Gujarat government.

The committee says the fire at Godhra was a result of a provocation at the town's railway station between passengers on the ill-fated Sabarmati Express and vendors at the station, the majority of whom were Muslims.

Our recommendations are now with the Home Ministry and the Gujarat government Committee chairman Justice SC Jain

An official who wished to remain unnamed told the BBC that the committee had recommended that all 120 accused in the Godhra case be tried under other sections of Indian law for the offences they are accused of having committed.

These include murder, arson, unlawful assembly and rioting.

Justice SC Jain, chairman of the committee, confirmed that he and his colleagues had completed their work reviewing all Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) cases in Gujarat.

"Our recommendations are now with the Home Ministry and the Gujarat government," he said.

The BBC also understands that the committee report says the Pota charges against the accused were an afterthought by the prosecution.

These charges were only included in the list of other charges a year after the incident.

Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah said the state government had received the report and would place it before the court.

Observers say this report could embarrass the Hindu nationalist BJP government of Narendra Modi in Gujarat, which has come under fire for its handling of the riots.

It has always maintained the Godhra incident was a planned terrorist conspiracy.