SIT FORMS CELL TO PROTECT WITNESSES IN 9 CASES

The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has established a Witness Protection Cell (WPC) to protect witnesses of all the nine 2002 riot cases being investigated by it. The cell is being led by an IPS officer. The team to man the cell has already been appointed. The WPC consists of Superintendent of Police M V Damor, Deputy Superintendent of Police N S Joshi and Sub-Inspectors Mini Joseph and Ashutosh Parmar. Damor, who is at present posted as commandant of Group 12 of the State Reserve Police (SRP), will act as the nodal officer of the cell. Joshi is at present posted as assistant commissioner of police with the Immigration Department of Ahmedabad Special Branch. Sources also said that SIT will shortly announce certain telephone numbers that can be used by the witnesses if they face any problem from any quarter in connection with the cases. SIT is also considering deployment of paramilitary forces for witness protection. “An assessment is on to gauge the strength of the paramilitary force required to protect witnesses in the cases being further investigated,” said an SIT officer.