Zakia Jafri's husband Ehsan Jafri, a Congress lawmaker, was among 69 people killed in the Gujarat riots massacre at Gulbarg Society.
Highlights
- 11 convicted of murder; guilty to be sentenced on June 6
- Gulbarg society among 10 cases probed by Supreme Court-appointed SIT
- 36 accused acquitted including BJP corporator Bipin Patel
14 years after a large mob attacked Gulbarg Society in Ahmedabad killing 69 people, including former Congress lawmaker Ehsan Jafri, 24 people were convicted today. Bipin Patel, a BJP corporator, is among 36 people who have been acquitted.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this story:
The Ahmedabad court will sentence those convicted on June 6. Eleven people have been convicted for murder and 13 for lesser offences, among them Atul Vaid, an ayurveda doctor and Vishwa Hindu Parishad or VHP leader.
The court rejected the charge of criminal conspiracy against all the 66 accused, saying there was no evidence to suggest a conspiracy. It is seen as a setback for the families of victims, who say the mob attack was pre-planned and not a spontaneous act.
The court acquitted 36 of those accused in the case saying there wasn't enough evidence against them. The detailed order will be out on Monday, when the convicts are sentenced.
Ehsan Jafri's wife Zakia said after today's verdict, "I am not satisfied with the court verdict. They should have been punished because I know what they did. They must get the punishment as they killed people and destroyed their families. I saw them doing it with my own eyes."
Bipin Patel, acquitted today, is a four-time BJP corporator from the Asarwa area. He was accused of being part of the mob and was charged with murder. Mr Patel was the corporator in 2002 too and has won multiple elections since.
The large mob had attacked Gulbarg society on February 28, 2002, a day after coaches of the Sabarmati Express train were burnt at Godhra station leaving 59 people dead.
Houses were set afire and Ehsan Jafri was dragged out, hacked and burnt to death. His frantic phone calls to police officers and senior politicians for help allegedly went unanswered.
Zakia Jafri had alleged the complicity of then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and other ministers in the 2002 Gujarat riots that left more than 1,000 people dead, and has moved the High Court after the lower court gave them a clean chit.
The lower court agreed with the SIT that Mr Modi and his state government took all necessary steps to control law and order after the Godhra killings.
The Gulbarg massacre is among the 10 major 2002 Gujarat riot cases re-investigated by a Special Investigation Team or SIT appointed by the Supreme Court.
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