A special SIT court has pronounced the judgement on 2002 post-Godhra riots case of Gulberg Society. The quantum of punishment was said today. On February 27, 2002 59 'karsevaks' were killed after the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express was burnt near Godhra railway station.
And the next day, Muslim residents of Gulberg society in Chamanpura area of Gujarat took refuge in former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri's house in the same society. An angry mob which came by that side torched most of the houses there. Most of the innocent lives were lost.
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, and the then central home minister LK Advani asked for protection but of no use. Jafri's wife Zakia Jafri has now said that the Chief Minister had an understanding with Police officials, senior ministers and bureaucrats to induce the violence in the state.
And now on June 2nd, 2016, 24 accused were convicted and 36 were acquitted. The judgement was delivered by special court judge PB Desai over eight months after the trial concluded on September 22, 2015. Of the 24 convicted, 11 were charged with murder, and 13 others were charged with lesser offences, including VHP leader Atul Vaidya.
