Gulberg Society case: Hearing remain inconclusive, to continue tomorrow

Ahmedabad

The hearing on the quantum of punishment to the 24 convicts of the Gulberg Society massacre which had seen the killing of 69 people including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri here on Februay 28, 2002 a day after burning of a coach of Sabarmati express in Godhra, remained inconclusive today as well and the court adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.

The court of Special Judge P B Desai ordered that the convicts need not be physically present tomorrow and if the need arose they could be produced through video conferencing from the Sabarmati jail where they are currently lodged.

Meanwhile, during the course of argument today the prosecution stuck to its eariler stand of maximum punishment to the accused while the defense counsel argued that the accused (the 11 held guilty of murder) should not be given capital punishment. Citing a judgement of the supreme court he said that as the accused had never in the past during bail had tried to tamper with the evidences, they should be given chance to mend ways. The defense lawyer also raised the point of firing by Late Jafri on the fateful day in which one person was killed and several others injured.

He said that Jafri was the sole culprit responsible for the unfortunate incident. His firing provoked the crowd. The court must take it in to account while deciding the quantum of punishment.

The court had held 24 of the total 66 accused guilty on June 2 while acquitted the remaining 36. Six had died during the trial. The court had in its order said that hearing on the quantum of punishment would be done. Of the 24 convicts 11 are held guilty under various charges including that of murder while one is guilty of attempt to murder and remaining 12 including VHP leader Atul Vaidya are guilty under lesser charges like rioting and unlawful assembling.

SIT counsel R C Kodekar during the argument on the last date of hearing on June 6 had demanded appropriated strict terms for the convicts while advocate of survivors and victims S M Vora sought strict terms for the convicts and compensation for the victims. One of the defense counsel on the other hand had on that day requested the court to show leniency saying that those convicted were not professional criminals and they reacted to the provocation of Late Mr. Jafri who had opened fire on the mob allegedly killing one and injuring many. A case in this regard against Mr. Jafri was also lodged.

Notably the court has dropped the charges of criminal conspiracy under section 120 B in the case.

DeshGujarat