Ahmedabad court rejects plea of 81 Hindu accused in Naroda gam case

Ahmedabad, 1 July 2013

Principal City Civil and Sessions Judge Jyotsna Yagnik today rejected an application of 81 Hindu accused to consider 82 “so-called-witnesses” of Muslim community as accused.

During the ongoing Criminal trial of Naroda Gam massacre in a special trial court presided over by Principal City Civil and Sessions Judge, Jyotsana Yagnik, all the 81 Hindu accused in the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case had moved an application through their advocates demanding to treat 82 “so-called-witnesses” of Muslim community as accused in the case for various charges of rioting including section 319 of CrPC.

Key witnesses like Nanumiya Malek, Madina Pathan, Mohammed Hanif Qureshi, Bismillakhan Pathan, Ganibhai Mansuri and Imran Pathan are part of a list of 82. Special Judge issued notice to the SIT in this regard. The application came to hearing today, and was rejected.

The applicants had claimed that there were recorded testimonies of Muslim witnesses in which they admitted to have indulged into stone pelting, throwing acid bulbs and bottles, burning rags etc. Many government witnesses like police officials had also testified this. Independent Hindu witnesses had also testified before the court that some Muslims had indulged in rioting.

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