This is a crucial verdict which shows that the 2002 Gujarat riots were not as one-sided as some politically motivated vested interests have made it out to be. I hope all the guilty are punished, whatever their affiliations might be.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Godhra: A Sessions Court at the Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad on Tuesday delivered the crucial judgement in the Godhra train fire of 2002, convicting 31 people and acquitting 63 others. The verdict was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge PR Patel, who convicted 31 people of criminal conspiracy in the train burning case.
The court agreed that the conspiracy to set the coach on fire was hatched at Aman Guest House, belonging to one Razak Kurkur, and the fuel used to burn the train was also was stored there. Kurkur and another prime accused Haji Billa have been found guilty but another main accused, Maulana Umarji, has been acquitted.
The court also acquitted Godhra Town Municipality chief Mohammad Abdul Rahim Kalota, Nannu Mian Chowdhary and Mohammad Ansari.
Special Public Prosecutor JM Panchal said that the court upheld that the burning of the train was a pre-planned conspiracy.
“The conspiracy theory has been accepted by the court and 31 convicted of criminal conspiracy. The motive of conspiracy was to set the train on fire. The vestibule was cut and the coach was set on fire. There can be no debate on judicial verdict. The verdict is based on oral evidence and eyewitness accounts,” said Panchal.
Out of 31 convicted, the sentencing of 25 people will be taken up on Friday. A total of 134 people were chargesheeted in the case out of which 16 are absconding while 13 have been released for lack of evidence.
Defence lawyer IM Munshi said his clients would appeal against the verdict.
“We are not satisfied with the judgement. There are many contradictions. We will have to appeal in the higher court. We will wait for the quantum of punishment and then appeal in the higher court,” said Munshi.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the verdict in the case.
“This is the time for people to introspect who have used the issue for petty political gains. Those who were questioning this incident itself need to do some soul searching. The larger issue that attack on kar sevaks was a conspiracy has been established,” said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
The S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was set on fire on February 27, 2002, killing 59 kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. The train burning incident sparked off the Gujarat riots in which over 1,000 people were killed. The trial conducted inside the Sabarmati Central Jail began in June 2009.
When are they going to punish the people behind the riots that followed? And is there no way to go after the actual rioters?
Some of them have already been convicted, but I believe that phase of the process is still going on and there could be more convictions. I personally think that its going to be harder to make a strong case against the rioters now that a conspiracy in the train burning has been proved, but hope that justice prevails.
due to bad cases and contradictory statements a lot of killers got released. may they rot in whore hell.
True, the alleged mastermind got off while the worker bees will rot in jail.
Train burning or no train burning, I don't see how any of it absolves the rioters' crimes. It shouldn't have any bearing on their case.
Its easier for defence to argue that the it was a spur of the moment act by the rioters when they heard about the Godhra train burning, as against a planned carnage. They would probably still get punished but under a different section and a lighter sentence.
I personally think that its going to be harder to make a strong case against the rioters now that a conspiracy in the train burning has been proved, but hope that justice prevails.
What does mass murder of INNOCENT people, who just happen to be Muslim have anything to do with Gadhra train?
Are you saying murdering INNOCENT people based solely on their religious affiliation is justified? Atelast in the eyes of your judicial system?
By that logic, the Hindus of Gujrat were also guilty by association to Indian Army, committing murder in Kashmir. So Ajmal Kasab should then be as free as the Indian terrorists who killed all those innocent Muslims in Gujrat. Perhaps you should have been Kasabs Lawyer, you could have played this card in court.
What kind clownish justice system does India have?
Its easier for defence to argue that the it was a spur of the moment act by the rioters when they heard about the Godhra train burning, as against a planned carnage. They would probably still get punished but under a different section and a lighter sentence.
Temporary insanity?
What do you think would happen if such a case were processed in a country with a more advanced and mature justice system?
Again, by this logic, a man who murders his family after finding out his wife is cheating would be let of the hook... Does that really play in Indian courts?
Some of them have already been convicted, but I believe that phase of the process is still going on and there could be more convictions. I personally think that its going to be harder to make a strong case against the rioters now that a conspiracy in the train burning has been proved, but hope that justice prevails.
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Right, just like all the people behind the Sikh Riots and Babri Masjid riots have all faced the gallows or are rotting in prison... Not to mention all the "Defenders" of Occupied Kashmir...
^ Obviously you have serious comprehension issues, and from your nick I daresay you have little to no knowledge of the legal system. Ever heard of the law differentiating between manslaughter and first degree murder ?
And get yourself checked dude !! Not every dicussion has to end with your rants about Kashmir.
^ Obviously you have serious comprehension issues, and from your nick I daresay you have little to no knowledge of the legal system. Ever heard of the law differentiating between manslaughter and first degree murder ?
And get yourself checked dude !! Not every dicussion has to end with your rants about Kashmir.
Lets see them prosecute someone.. Then we talk.
PS.. I enjoy rants on Kashmir because I enjoy having you expose you ignorance and stupidity on the subject. :)
The Supreme Court appointed Special Investigative Team did not find any evidence to initiate action against Modi.
Dude give it up. Your system botched this Sh1t up. This is the same system that has yet to prosecute anyone for the mass murder of Sikhs, even though the number of riotous murderers ran into the thousands, yet the guy who murdered Indra Ghandi was promptly arrested and Hung.
Special Public Prosecutor JM Panchal said that the court upheld that the burning of the train was a pre-planned conspiracy.
"The conspiracy theory has been accepted by the court and 31 convicted of criminal conspiracy. The motive of conspiracy was to set the train on fire. The vestibule was cut and the coach was set on fire. There can be no debate on judicial verdict.** The verdict is based on oral evidence and eyewitness accounts**," said Panchal.
And ignoring all forensic evidence showing that fire started inside the train.
Mockery of justice! ! ! shows how much is indian judicial system biased against muslims.
^ Obviously you have serious comprehension issues, and from your nick I daresay you have little to no knowledge of the legal system. Ever heard of the law differentiating between manslaughter and first degree murder ?
And get yourself checked dude !! Not every dicussion has to end with your rants about Kashmir.
1st degree murder...
Murder that is willful, deliberate, and premeditated,
Manslaughter.. Refers to a provocation.
Provocation is justifiable if a reasonable person under similar circumstances would be induced to act in the same manner as the defendant. It must be found that the degree of provocation was such that a reasonable person would lose self-control. In actual practice, there is no precise formula for determining reasonableness. It is a matter that is determined by the trier of fact, either the jury or the judge in a nonjury trial, after a full consideration of the evidence.
Either way, they are guilty of murder. But not a single person seems to have been charged. Isnt that the actual problem here?
Either way, nothing excuse gutting people and burning them alive. If the man that killed Indra Ghandi can get the death penalty, why would it be so hard to convict and punish someone who murders innocent Muslims in the most cruel a manner as anyone can imagine?
Are you mentally slow? Your saying that your legal system might let MURDERERS, who killed INNOCENT people, off the hook, because of an apparent attack committed by other people, that had absolutely nothing to do with the victims of those murderous animals?
Are you saying that in India, anyone can kill another person, and have a good chance of being excused, if they can prove that it was motivated by a separate crime, committed by someone completely different from the actual victim?
What kind of prehistoric system do you have running? No legal system in the world would ever allow such an excuse to fly.
PS.. I enjoy rants on Kashmir because I enjoy having you expose you ignorance and stupidity on the subject. :)
OK..let me "dumb" it down for you - there is no way to prosecute thousands of rioters for the Gujarat riots. Show me one example in history where a rioting mob has been prosecuted. The only prosecutions that take place in such cases are those of the motivators/leaders of these mobs. The Godhra verdict gives those "suspected" leaders an excuse i.e. people heard about the train burning and came on the streets on their own - we did not motivate/encourage them.
Carry on with your rants about Kashmir/Israel or even Timbuktoo if that helps you sleep well at night. I do not intend stooping down to your level to score brownie points.
Either way, nothing excuse gutting people and burning them alive. If the man that killed Indra Ghandi can get the death penalty, why would it be so hard to convict and punish someone who murders innocent Muslims in the most cruel a manner as anyone can imagine?
Can you prove who/how many people were involved in killing "innocent" Muslims ? You cannot charge a faceless mob, can you ?