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Gulbarg Society massacre: Court to declare quantum of punishment on June 6

by IBNS 02 Jun 2016, 11:23 am

Ahmedabad, June 2 (IBNS) The Special Court on Thursday said it will declare the quantum of punishment for the 2002 Gulbarg society case on June 6, according to media reports.

A day after coaches of the Sabarmai Express were burnt at Godhra station, a mob of nearly 20,000 people attacked Gulbarg society on February 28, 2002, killing 69 people, including former Congress lawmaker Ehsan Jafri.
 
The mob had attacked Gulbarg on February 28 2002, a day after coaches of the Sabarmati Express train were burnt at Godhra station leaving 59 people dead.
 
The verdict was delivered after 14 years. 66 people were tried. Of these, 24 accused have been convicted out of whom 11 have been charged with murder and others with minor offences. 
 
The court has acquitted 36.
 
Bipin Patel, a sitting BJP corporator from Asarva, one of the key accused, has been acquitted by the court.
 
The Court ruled that the massacre "was not a pre-planned conspiracy" media reported.
 
Late Ehsan Jafri's wife, Zakia, talking to the NDTV said she is not satisfied with the verdict. She said, ""I am very unhappy with the judgement. I will carry on the fight, will do whatever it takes."
 
Tanvir Jari, son of Ehsan Jafri, on the other hand said, he is satisfied with the court's decision but asked why did it take so long since the names were known to the administration. He said, "Though it took 14 years, it has been a long battle for us."
 
Six of the 66 charged in the case died during the course of the trial.
 
338 witnesses were examined.