Godhra crusader finally promoted Guj police chief

JUSTICE DELAYED: Though he got his promotion, DGP R B Sreekumar had already retired a year ago.

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Gandhinagar: IPS officer R B Sreekumar has finally gotten his appointment letter as the Director General of the Gujarat Police.

For this cop, however, this well-deserved promotion has come a little too late - almost a year after he retired from service.

Sreekumar has been waging a lonely battle against Chief Minister Narendra Modi's government since the 2003 post-Godhra riots. He says he has no regrets, however.

"There was a systematic attempt to subvert criminal justice. What I did was my duty,” said the retired DGP. “It was like a head constable trapping a DGP for not wearing a helmet. Only in this case, maybe it was people like the Chief Secretary or the Chief Minister."

For voicing his concerns, Sreekumar had to sacrifice his career. He was superceded by a junior officer to the rank of DGP and even named in a chargesheet.

It is after three long years of legal battles that his appointment order has come. But since he has retired, he can only enjoy retirement benefits accorded to a DGP-level officer.

Sreekumar now wants to fight for justice for the riot victims and wants to depose before the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team.

"I have relevant information and I've told them that they can call me when it is convenient. After all, justice should be done," Sreekumar said.

The struggle will continue, he has said, and he plans to win this battle, too.

With inputs from Gaurav Shah