Methodology

Crime Against Humanity 
Volume I An inquiry into the carnage in Gujarat 
List of Incidents and Evidence 
By Concerned Citizens Tribunal -Gujarat 2002
Incidents of Post-Godhra Violence

Annexure 4 
Methodology

The Tribunal recorded 2,094 oral and written statements in the fortnight-long sittings.While major issues that arose out of the data contained in the data have reflected in theanalysis, it is possible that some disparities show up since the teams that gathered and pro-cessed the data were not professionals.

Data Collection 
Areas most acutely affected by the violence were identified and sittings then scheduled.Public announcements of the sittings were made in advance. At least two Judges were presentfrom the eight member Tribunal when the most critical areas and sites were visited.Statements were taken voluntarily. In many cases, Hindu representation from affected areaswas sought by members of the Tribunal. The witnesses deposed as direct depositions beforemembers of the Tribunal and the convenors and volunteers recorded written statements. Thetestimonies were not time bound, as a result of which the spontaneity has been preserved.While 94.5 per cent of the testimonies were from Muslim survivor victims, 5.5 per cent werefrom Hindus from the same affected areas or from neighbouring localities.

A broadly similar format was used though this was not rigid to affect uniformity. (see Form,Detailed Annexures, Volume III)

Cause of Riots 
This was ascertained from the data collected in the forms through multiple codes. The ideawas to ascertain what different kinds of causes, or what sort of similarity existed. Hence detailsof slogans raised by the mob during assault and any other details about the persons shouting sloganswere a category. To emerge at an understanding of whether or not there was a conspiracy ornot, details were sought about whether to not any group meeting had taken place before the attack.Thereafter to ascertain more details a question was also raised about why addressed the group, thevenue for the meeting, the spread of a rumour before the attack, the geographical area from where the rumourspread, the precautions had taken after rumours spread etc.

Effect of the Violence
Loss to person To arrive at some understanding of the extent of losses suffered, extensive details on this weresought from the data fields on the form. Here details of attack on the place of dwelling (Residence) in termsof the date, time and place were sought apart from the details of the attack itself. Details were soughtalso on damages to other residences and properties in the locality that the deponent had knowledge of.

Details regarding dead persons: apart from the name and age and details of the accused theCause of death was sought to be ascertained (1) Due to sharp cutting weapon, (2) By burning,(3) Private Firing, (4) Any other reasons. The details from the evidence regarding the post-mortemreport, FIR—whether it had been filed or not; the, the names of witnesses were also sought.

Details of gender crimes were sought as also the police response to each one of these inrespect of response at the time of the crime itself, registration of offences, naming complain-ants and arresting the guilty.

Loss of Life, Threat to Life, Damage to property.

Details of the kind of destruction were also solicited.

Loss to family/known

Known applies to known accused from the area. Livelihood lost, education disrupted, Physical andmental trauma, earning member dislocated, migration were some of the field in which informationwas sought.

The kind and extent of damage to the community details were sought as also details of theattack if there was more than one.

Patterns of Violence 
This was a valid determinant and visible patterns emerged. The data collection revolvedaround how many people were involved, whether they carried weapons, were they local people oroutsiders. The materials that they carried for attack were also detailed in fields for the respon-dent like kerosene, petrol, and gas cylinders, any other.

The Guilty 
Specific data was sought on whether or not any political person is involved in the attack andother details of other attackers were sought too.

Law and Order 
Police —a) whether police was present at the time of offence, b) inaction; Details of information ifgiven to the police regarding the attack; c) police responsibility: After how much time of givinginformation police reached the place and What steps were taken by the police?

Fire Brigade: a) whether fire brigade was informed; b) After how much time of informing fire brigadearrived.

Administration: a) Details of help if sought from any Govt. officer

Medical Aid: did this arrive in time and was it adequate?

Relief/ Rehabilitation 
Details of compensation received were also sought from the deponents compared to theirloss of damage.

The Tribunal collected it’s own data on these lines. In addition, other detailed statisticalanalyses of over 4,000 forms published was carried out. This analysis has been carried out byCitizens for Justice and Peace, Citizens Initiative and Federation for Civil Liberties