Officers’ choice: Is SIT probe formula foolproof?

Ahmedabad: In a trend following major tragedies in Gujarat, police have consistently formed special investigation teams (SITs) led by officers from the very jurisdictions where the alleged negligence or failure occurred.
The latest in the series is the Deesa firecracker tragedy that killed 22 people. DySP C L Solanki, under whose watch the accident occurred, was appointed the head of the SIT. This, despite mounting criticism over alleged police inaction in preventing hazardous labour practices. This isn't an isolated case.
In the 2023 Bilodara hooch tragedy, where methanol-laced syrup killed seven, DySP V R Bajpai — again, from the jurisdiction where the deaths occurred — was asked to head the SIT. "The decision was slammed as an attempt to save face rather than ensure accountability, especially when previous raids on the accused had failed to prevent further misuse of methanol," said a senior official. However, Bajpai countered the allegation. Speaking to TOI he said, "I headed the SIT and did an excellent job due to which the main accused did not get bail. Along with me, SOG PI B N Chudasma and Nadiad rural PI K S Dave — in whose jurisdiction the incident took place — were in the SIT."
The same pattern played out in the 2024 TRP Game Zone fire in Rajkot that killed 33, including nine children. Here too, a local officer, ACP Bharat Basiya, led the SIT. In the infamous 2022 Morbi bridge collapse, DySP P A Jhala from Morbi was tasked with probing a disaster that killed 135 — again raising the question: Who will investigate the role of investigators? The labourers killed in the Deesa case had been relocated from Harda, Madhya Pradesh, after a fatal blast there.
(With input from Nimesh Khakhariya)