February 27 is the day when 59 Kar Sevaks, who were returning after Kar Seva in Ayodhya, were burnt alive in Godhra by a Muslim mob of about 2000 people.
Perhaps the worst lynching which no one talks about.
It was the morning time when the train reached Godhra station. It was late by three hours. It still had a three-hour journey left for its destination. But the Sabarmati Express could never reach its destination.
The moment the train started pulling out of the station, it was stopped by pulling down the chain. Coach S-6, in which Karsevaks were travelling was surrounded by a Muslim mob of about 2000 people.
Even before the Ram Bhakts could realise it was no ordinary ‘chain pulling’, the coach was up in flames. There were shrill cries, burning bodies and smoke all around.
After some time, there were just dead bodies. The bodies burnt beyond recognition.
Many attempts were made by the vested interests to establish the fire in coach S-6 was an accident. The Nanavati Commission, appointed by the Gujarat Government to look into the issue, examined scores of documents and heard the testimonies of more than 1000 people.
It ruled out any accident and concluded it was a planned incident.
In March 2011, the Special SIT court convicted 31 people for the crime. Of the 31 convicted, 11 were sentenced to death and 20 were sentenced to life imprisonment.
One of the key accused, Rafiq Hussain Bhatu, was apprehended by the police near Godhra nearly 19 years after the crime. Some of the accused are still at large. It’s believed they have fled to Pakistan.
But the memories of the Kar Sevaks, their shrill cries never flee.
