Editor, BBC News Online

13th March 2006
Dear Sir,

There is a story today on BBC News Online written by Geeta Pandey concerning the riots in March/April 2002 in the Indian state of Gujarat which left at least two thousand Muslims dead at the hands of Hindu mobs. It says that:

'The violence was sparked by the death of 59 Hindus on a train. Reports said the train had been set on fire by a Muslim mob in the town of Godhra.' (http://news.bbc.co.uk)

However, a story on BBC News Online last week (March 3rd 2006) written by Jyotsna Singh reported that:

'An inquiry by the Indian rail ministry into a fire on a train in Gujarat four years ago has concluded that it was caused by an accident.' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world)

As you must know there were several conflicting accounts about how the train carrying many Hindu pilgrims actually caught fire at Godhra. There were allegations that some Muslims had thrown petrol bombs at the train, but also eyewitness reports that people had been cooking in the carriage at the time when the carriage caught fire. Your March 3rd story by Jyotsna Singh recognised this and reported the story in a balanced manner - something we cannot say for today's story by Geeta Pandey.

Please could you ask your India desk to look at today's story again with a view to ensuring it properly reflects up to date findings from the Inquiry by the Indian Rail Ministry. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Inayat Bunglawala,
Secretary,
Media Committee,