An Indian court has convicted 24 people – 11 for murder – over a massacre during religious riots 14 years ago in Gujarat state, then led by the current prime minister, Narendra Modi.
Judge PB Desai acquitted 36 others for lack of evidence over the killing of 69 Muslims sheltering in a residential complex in the city of Ahmedabad.
Celebrations erupted in the courtroom in Ahmedabad after the verdicts were read out, with victims and their families clapping and thanking the judge.
“I am happy 24 accused were convicted but sad that 36 others have been acquitted. This is incomplete justice and I will fight till the end,” Zakia Jafri, whose husband was killed in the massacre, told reporters.
The 2002 massacre was one of the single worst incidents of the days-long riotsthat swept across Gujarat and left more than 1,000 people dead in total.
More than 300 witnesses gave evidence during the years-long trial that was delayed for so long by petitions and appeals that several of the original accused died.
Prosecutors are seeking life in prison for all defendants accused of storming the Gulbarg Society complex and burning and hacking to death Muslims who were hiding there.
The riots have long dogged Modi who, as Gujarat chief minister, was accused of turning a blind eye to the violence – claims that he denies.
The violence was triggered by the death of 59 Hindu pilgrims in a train fire on 27 February 2002 that was initially blamed on Muslims.
Hindus out for revenge rampaged through Muslim neighbourhoods in some of India’s worst religious riots since independence from Britain and partition in 1947.
More than 100 people have already been convicted over the riots.(Agence France-Presse)
Link: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/02/gujarat-riots-massacre-judge-convicts-24-over-killing-of-69-muslims
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