A special trial court on Wednesday acquitted 42 of 73 accused in Sardarpura massacre case in which 33 people were burnt to death on March 1, 2002 post Godhara communal riots in Gujarat. All 31 convicted have been given life term as quantum of punishment for the crime by the court, whichconducted trial in last two years.
The accused were charged for murder, attempt to murder, looting, rioting and other charges. Of 73 accused, 8 are still lodged in jail while remaining are out on bail.
Sardarpura, a small village near Mehsanad, massacre case was one of the nine cases reinvestigated by the Supreme Court appointed SIT headed by former CBI director Dr RK Raghavan. The trial was monitored by the Supreme Court, which sought reports of the progress of these cases regularly.
According to the complainant Sheikh Ibrahim Rghubhai a mob of 1,000 people had attacked a Muslim locality. Scared of rioters fury, people had gathered in a tiny room owned by Sheikh Mehmudmiya Hussainmiya which was set on fire. 28 bodies were recovered from the room while 5 had died during treatment.
This is the second of the nine cases in which trial was initially stayed and later monitored by the Supreme Court.
No comments:
Post a Comment