2002 Gulbarg Society Massacre Verdict; 24 Convicted, 36 Acquitted

June 02, 2016 12:55

The special court in Ahmedabad today has given its verdict on 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre by convicting 24 of the accused on various charges. The court has acquitted 36 of the total 66 accused in the the case.

Out of the 24 accused convicted in the case, the 11 accused have been convicted of murder while 13 have been found guilty of other charges. The court is set to pronounce the sentencing for the convicts on June 6.

Atul Vaidya, a VHP leader, included in the convicts’ list. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders Haresh Bhatt and Jaydeep Patel along with the number of various VHP leaders were present at the court premise to give support to the accused. They have said that they will challenge the verdict by special court and will approach the higher courts.

The verdict was delivered by special judge PD Desai in a tight security. Four judges had conducted the trial which lasted for seven years. The special court had completed the trail in September 2015. But was inhibited by the supreme court from delivering the verdict. Further, the Supreme Court had directed the trial court to deliver its verdict by May 31.

Also Read: Special Court Judgment On Gulberg Society Massacre On June 2

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by former CBI chief RK Raghavan, was investigating the Gulbarg society case, eight of the total nine cases which are being investigated by the Supreme Court-appointed SIT. Out of the total 66, 5 accused were died during the trial. 338 witnesses were examined in the case. The then chief minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi was one of the accused of the case filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of a Congress parliamentarian Ehsan Jafri, who was killed in the massacre. Narendra Modi was given a clean chit by the SIT afterwards.

Gulbarg society, a Muslim residential area was attacked after Sabarmati Express was burned in Godhra in 2002. 69 people including Ehsan Jafri is supposed to have been killed in the attacks alleged planned by the Hindu fundamentalists.

By Prajakt K.