The Gujarat High Court has convicted seven persons for murder in a post-Godhra communal riots case while asking the convicts to remain present in the court on July 25 when the court will pass sentence.
The case relates to the killing of three persons belonging to the minority community in Viramgam town near Ahmedabad on February 28, 2002 when a mob of 40 persons attacked a locality where the minority community lived.
The mob wanted to burn a shrine in the area but locals resisted the move which led to rioting in which two persons died on the spot while one succumbed to injuries at VS hospital in Ahmedabad.
The High Court division bench has upheld the trial court’s verdict convicting two persons for murder while convicting seven others of the same charge.
The court, however, has acquitted one in the case in which 10 persons were tried.
The division bench of Justices Harsha Devani and Biren Vaishnav has found three persons, who where earlier acquitted by the trial court, found guilty of murder and other charges such as rioting and arson.
The trial court had given its verdict in 2011 when it convicted two persons of murder and four others for lesser offences but acquitted three because several witnesses had turned hostile during the trial.
The case had seen several twists and turns and Gujarat High Court had asked Ahmedabad (rural) superintendent of police (SP) to probe the case further in 2010.
The seven who were found guilty are: Satabhai alias Haider Gela Bharwad, Naranbhai Samantbhai Bharwad, Udaji Ranchhodbhai Thakor, Valabhai Gelabhai Bharwad, Viththal alias Kuchiyo Moti Bharwad, Mulabhai Gelabhai Bharwad and Merabhai Gelabhai Bharwad.
