Gandhinagar, Aug 8 (IANS) Sanjiv Bhatt, Gujarat cadre IPS officer who shot into the limelight after his claimed presence at a crucial meeting of Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the night after the Godhra train carnage in 2002 where a signal for retributory action was allegedly given, was suspended from service late on Monday night.

The suspension order served on him and signed by Varesh Sinha, additional chief secretary (Home) of the Gujarat government, stated that he was being suspended with immediate effect for his various acts of omission and commission and for a conduct unbecoming of a senior IPS officer.

Among the other reasons cited in the letter were remaining unauthorisedly absent from last posting, not appearing before an enquiry when called, and for misuse of the official car.

The Godhra train burning on Feb 27, 2002, in which 59 Hindu karsevaks were killed, sparked statewide riots in which over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.