AHMEDABAD, 16 September 2003 — For Muslims brave enough to depose in cases related to last year’s sectarian riots in the western Indian state of Gujarat, police protection has remained a distant hope despite court orders. Instead of providing the 1,000-odd Muslims round-the-clock security, only a few hours protection is given by policemen who often pester their reluctant hosts for food, snacks and beverages, witnesses said.

“It seems that the police just does not care about the Supreme Court order. They come only for a few hours and ask us to call if we need them,” said Alam Khan Anwar Khan Pathan, a witness in a case in which 40 people were killed.

Pathan and his wife saw seven members of their family being killed by a Hindu mob during the incident, but fear for their own lives kept him from deposing before a court who heard the case on Aug. 28 and 29.

“My wife asked me not to go before the judges as that could have got us into trouble. But if I am provided adequate security, I may depose on the next hearing date on Oct. 13,” said Pathan.

In June, a key witness, Zaheera Shaikh, 17, changed her court testimony and lied out of fear for her life in a case in which 12 Muslims were burnt alive by a Hindu mob in a bakery furnace in Gujarat’s Vadodara town. The 21 people being tried in the case were acquitted.

India’s Supreme Court Friday again ordered Gujarat’s Hindu nationalist-led government to extend full protection to Shaikh, who fled the state.

When it became clear that the National Human Rights Commission and Shaikh were not going to let the case fizzle out, the Gujarat government hastily lodged an appeal in the state high court challenging the acquittals.

“It appears to us that it (the government appeal) is an eyewash. It is just an eyewash and nothing else. We will not be silent spectators. We will act if the state keeps silent,” the Supreme Court said.

It suggested the Gujarat government think of appointing an independent prosecuting agency in the case and other instances of riots in order to seek swift justice.

Another witness, 65-year-old Fakir Mohammad Sayyed, complained about the policemen providing protection.

“Four members of my family have been given police protection, but it is a big joke. The police come at whatever time that suits them. They ask us to prepare food for them and serve tea and snacks,” he said.

One of the witnesses, Firoze Gulzar Mohammed, who complained about the police behavior, quickly ran into a bureaucratic wall.