Sardarpura riot: Court charges 31

Mehsana, Gujarat, Nov 9 (IBNS): A special fast-track court in Gujarat on Wednesday found guilty 31 out of 73 people accused in the 2002 Sardarpura riot case.

42 people were acquitted in connection to the incident by the special fast-track court in Mehsana.

As many as 33 people were burnt alive in Sadarpura area on March 1, 2002. It was among the series of communal violence that rocked Gujarat after the Sabarmati Express train burning incident that took place in Godhra.

The convicts were charged on various grounds that included murder, attempt to murder, arson and rioting, media reports said.

However, the quantum of the punishment would be stated later.

The convicts were charged in connection to the Sardarpora riot case where mob had burnt the house of a person named Ibrahim Sheikh who stayed at the Sardarpura village in Vijapur taluka. Many people were hiding in his house after severe riot erupted in the village on Feb 28, 2002.

33 people, including 20 women, were killed in that incident.

Out of the 76 persons who were arrested in connection to this incident, two died while the trial was going on and one was trialed at a juvenile court.

The court had framed charges against the 73 accused persons in June 2009.

This incident was one of the nine Gujarat riots cases that were handed over to Special Investigation Team (SIT).