South Asia News
Indian court finds 31 guilty in Gujarat riot case
Nov 9, 2011, 10:41 GMT
New Delhi - A court Wednesday convicted 31 people for setting fire to a building in Gujarat, western India, during widespread riots in the state in 2002, news reports said.
Thirty-three people, 20 of them women, were burnt to death in Sardarpura village of Mehasana district after rioters set the house in which they took shelter on fire on February 28, 2002.
The 31 convicted, all Hindus, were charged with murder and rioting by a fast-track court, NDTV news channel reported. All the victims were Muslim.
The 42 others who were tried in the case were acquitted for lack of evidence.
The court is expected to pass sentence later this week. The convicted could be given the death penalty.
The 2002 riots were triggered after a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was attacked and set on fire by an alleged Muslim mob in Gujarat's Godhra town on February 27. At least 59 passengers died.
More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in retaliatory violence that raged for weeks in the state and is counted among the deadliest sectarian riots seen in India in recent years.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in South Asia
- 1. Sri Lanka leftist party says leader, activist are abducted
- 2. US agrees to let Afghan forces take lead in night raids
- 3. India, Pakistan leaders want better ties
- 4. Pilot killed in crash of Bangladesh Air Force jet
- 5. Pakistani president visits India for lunch meeting, prayers
Older Talkback
