All acquitted in post-Godhra arson case

03 February, Gandhinagar

District Sessions Court today acquitted 28 people accused of indulging in rioting, arson and damaging property in post-Godhra communal trouble witnessed in Gujarat in 2002.

The case was related to damaging of a Dargah in Paliyad village of Kalol taluka in Gandhinagar district. The case also related to burning of property belonging to minority community by a mob of over 250 a day after the coach of Sabarmati Express was set ablaze by miscreants near Godhra Railway Station killing 58 people.

The court stated that the offence could not be proved as not enough evidence was produced before it. Some of the witnesses had also turned hostile during the hearing of the case and did not identify any of the accused.

The witnesses also maintained that they did not hold any grudge against anyone as the damages have been paid for as per the compromise reached amongst villagers to maintain communal harmony.