Gandhinagar: A local court in Kalol taluka of Gandhinagar district today ordered the release of all 28 accused including the chairman of a cooperative bank and absolved them of the charges in a case pertaining to the 2002 Gujarat riots.

During the state-wide reactionary riots after the burning of a coach of Sabarmati Express in Godhara killing 58 people on February 27, 2002 a mob went on rampage in Paliad village under Kalol taluka. They allegedly damaged an Eidgah and some other properties belonging to minority community and also tried to burn some houses.

A case against a mob of 250 people was lodged in this connection and 28 persons including the chairman of Kalol Nagrik Sahkari Bank, Govind Patel were also made accused.

The court of ADJ B D Patel in its order said that it was absolving them of the charges owing to lack of evidence.

Witnesses in the case had also refused to identify the accused.

Defence counsel Bhavesh Rawal said that the loss incurred during the incident has been compensated.

DeshGujarat