Godhra train burning case: Death for 11, life imprisonment for 20

NEW DELHI: On Tuesday a special court pronounced the death penalty for 11 people accused for the Godhra train burning case and handed down life sentence to 20 others. It is the largest number of death sentences given at any one time in the country’s history.

Public prosecutor J M Panchal said, “The court looking into their active role in the conspiracy and setting afire the S6 coach of Sabarmati Express train near Godhra, gave death penalty to 11 people.” The court also slapped punishment on them under various other sections, which will be concurrent to their life term.

The prosecution had sought death sentence for all the 31 convicts, saying that it was a heinous act.

Thirty-one people were convicted and 63 others, including the main accused Maulvi Umarji, were acquitted on February 22 by a special court here in the 2002 Godhra train burning incident that left 59 people dead and triggered violence in Gujarat that had claimed the lives of over 1200 people, mainly Muslims.

The court acquitted prime accused Umarji while other prominent accused Haji Billa and Rajjak Kurkur were convicted.

Defence counsel I M Munshi said the convicts will definitely appeal against the punishment awarded to them.

Munshi said, “It (the punishment) is very difficult to swallow. Till we get the copy of the judgement, we cannot comment much.”

He said, “We will definitely appeal against the verdict in the high court. Till the high court confirms the judgement, it cannot be implemented.”