South Asia News
LEAD: Indian court sentences 31 to life in jail in Gujarat riot case
Nov 9, 2011, 13:11 GMT
New Delhi - An Indian court Wednesday sentenced 31 Hindus to life in jail for killing 33 Muslims after setting fire to a building in the western state of Gujarat during widespread riots in 2002, news reports said.
Thirty-three people, including 20 women, were burnt to death in the village of Sardarpura in the Mehasana district after rioters set the house in which they took shelter on fire on February 28, 2002.
The Hindu convicts were charged with murder and rioting by a fast-track court, NDTV news channel reported. All the victims were Muslim.
The court also acquitted 42 people who were originally implicated in the case.
The convicts can appeal their sentences in a higher court.
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.
After the train attack, more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed during weeks of sectarian violence.
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