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23 get jail term in Godhra riots case

Special Correspondent

Fast track court also imposes fine of Rs. 17,500 each in 5 cases of looting and arson

AHMEDABAD: The Godhra fast track court has sentenced 23 accused to 10 years jail and imposed a fine of Rs. 17,500 each in five cases of looting and arson during the post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat.

According to the prosecution, the accused, who included some middle-level leaders of the BJP, were part of a mob which attacked, looted and set fire to some Muslim houses in five villages of Kalol taluka in Panchamahals district on the night of February 28, 2002.

There, however, were no deaths in the attack.

Justice F. U. Malek, judge, found all the accused guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code based on the statements of the eye witnesses. Unlike in most other riot-related cases in the State, none of the witnesses of the public prosecutor turned hostile in the Kalol rioting cases. All the accused, who were out on bail earlier, were re-arrested after the verdict.The lawyer of the accused, however, termed the sentence very harsh and said he would move the higher court against its order.

Meanwhile, the anti-terrorist squad of the State police nabbed two alleged aides of Babakhan Pathan who was believed to be very active in supplying arms to "prepare for revenge."

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23 get jail term in Godhra riots case

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