Indian Court Sentences 11 to Death for Role in 2002 Godhra Train Fire

Indian Court Sentences 11 to Death for Role in 2002 Godhra Train Fire
Kurt Achin | New Delhi March 01, 2011




http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Indian-Court-Sentences-11-to-Death-for-Role-in-2002-Godhra-Train-Fire-117142708.html

Photo: AFP
Public Prosecutor Rajendra Tiwari (L) addresses media representatives following the verdict on the 2002 Godhra train incident at the special court inside the Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad
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Indian Court Convicts 31 for Triggering Anti-Muslim Riots
An Indian court has handed down one of the largest number of death sentences given at any one time in the country's history. The death sentences follow dozens of convictions, earlier this month, in connection to a deadly 2002 arson attack against a train loaded with Hindu pilgrims.

In one of the highest profile cases of India's modern history, Prosecutor J.M. Panchal summarized the sentence handed down by a court Tuesday in the Indian state, Gujarat.

"Eleven persons have been awarded capital punishment. That is their sentence. Another 20 persons have been awarded life imprisonment," Panchal said.

The 31 men, all Muslims, were convicted earlier this month on charges of conspiracy and murder in connection with the 2002 burning of a train car in the Gujarati town of Godhra - 59 people burned to death in that incident. Most of them were Hindu pilgrims returning from the northern city, Ayodha - where, 10 years earlier, extreme Hindus had destroyed a mosque in a decades-long property dispute.

Weeks of rioting and violence in Gujarat followed the train fire, killing about 1,000 people, mainly Muslims. The episode is seen here in India as one of the darkest chapters in a regional history fraught with Hindu-Muslim tension.

The cause of the train fire has been widely disputed. However, prosecutors convinced the court that convicted the 31 men, earlier this month, that the fire was the end goal of a conspiracy. Prosecutor Panchal says, in Tuesday's session, the court agreed the heinous nature of the attack merited the large number of death sentences.

"In so far [as the] 11 accused persons are concerned, their case falls under the category of rarest of the rare case, looking to the part played by the accused persons in the crime," he said.

Both sides have 90 days to appeal Tuesday's sentencing. Defense lawyers say they hope to overturn both the death sentences and the life imprisonment sentences. Prosecution lawyers are likely to push for toughening the life imprisonments to sentences of death.



Email Print Comments Comments (29)
01-03-2011 XYZ (USA)
If a case involves killing done by a person or persons who was sound minded during that act, should be punished. This should be done irrespective of prior situations and irrespective of religion, caste, creed etc. An anger which leads to killing is not justifiable eventhough the reason for the anger is very very valid. We say we are civilized,better knowledged and more organized than animals, but if you notice no animal kills another animal of its same kind during their fights.
01-03-2011 ravi (india)
justice delayed but not denied.bravo indian judicary
01-03-2011 Tushar (Hyd)
Well Said.
01-03-2011 Dave O (USA)
Killing people who kill people because its wrong to kill people...?
01-03-2011 Indian (India)
No body cares about what happen to Hindus people from Kashmir Kashmiri Pandits.....some got killed ....some got converted and some got thrown out of their own homes from Kashmir...Question comes by whom? By the people staying there now ....or by Militants ? .. All is politics in state as well as in country? Will pray to GOD to give peace to every one .... Jai hind
01-03-2011 Prince (Sydney)
This is really confusing. The other high power investigation on this issue said the accident happened due to technical fault in the train. Moreover, pary in the power in Ayoddha encouraged the mosque demolition and encourage muslim killing.
01-03-2011 Ayan
I think If criminals should not be killed then they will create a chain of hate and that will create terrorism.
01-03-2011 Lambodar Prasad Dash (India)
THe verdict is realy historic and we the independent citizens of the great independent country hope this will prove examplary for the coming time. The execution of this verdict should force The antinationalist and fundamantalist forces to think thousand times before doing antihuman activities. Vande Maataram
01-03-2011 g.p.singh (india)
such barbaric act in civilized society must be dealt as it is done in this case ,however,justice came very late.due to this act many innocent lives have been lost post godhra.
01-03-2011 ramesh mohanty (india)
It is a historical verdict against inhumanity and barbarism. It should be reflected in case of kandhmal riot in orissa, where a hindu saint had been brutally murdered and a riot started just like this issue.
01-03-2011 g.p.singh (india)
such barbaric act in civilized society must be dealt as it is done in this case ,however,justice came very late.due to this act many innocent lives have been lost post godhra.
01-03-2011
Another ten years in court ant 10 years with president .
01-03-2011 Viswanathan A M
Capital punishment should be awarded in rarest of the rare cases anywhere in the world. India should not be an exception.
01-03-2011 Satyavadi (India)
Media reports the post Godra riots are a darkest chapter in Indian history.But what about the fate of Hindus in Pakistan ?.At the time of partition they were 25% of the Pak population.Now they are less than 2.5%. living in constant fear.On the other hand Indian muslims are multiplying year by year.If they behave as Indians all will respect them.If they try to spread hatred and fear ultimately other members of their community will suffer for no fault.
01-03-2011 Lets be honest
Sikhs were butchered on the streets of Delhi. No death sentence for corrupt politicians and their stooges who used electrol lists to identify sikh homes and business. Sikhs of Delhi and other parts of India were denied justice, they were killed because of their religion..Indian who proclaim to be honest and just are all responsible for this genocide. Some how it appears that hindus have more rights than non-hindus in India.
01-03-2011 G vasudevan (India)
centuries back gullible indians were plundered, ransacked , murdered and converted by savage hordes. They have left a legacy that the brothers and sisters of the same indians are agin being murdered mercilessly by the converted kin. Can humanity ever be free of savagery? yes wipe out religion
01-03-2011 Peace Lover (India)
Everyone knows that it was a conspracy the State Government against Muslims. Only Almighty God will teach the conspirators a lesson.
01-03-2011 ankur (india)
it seems that in case when muslims are convicted ,the judgement atleast reached its end . But what about those 1000's of innocent lives that were brutally massacred in the after fall of these train burnings, when 3-4 years children were raised in the sky with trishul, when they were hanged and burnt alive, when defenceless women were raped by the crowd ,when 50000 people were made homeless,there buisnesses were destroyed.
01-03-2011 XYZ (India)
Who are going to punish to those human who killed thousand of innocent women and childrens ?
01-03-2011 kekun (india)
justice has been delayed, but the honourable court has given the real justice.in future any person will attempt to do this disgust work he'll think twice, what was happened with the accused.
01-03-2011 DADA (INDIA)
Good Idea, If 59 people died in Train & court order for 11 death sentence & 20 life prison then it should be equally justify that, more then 1000 Muslim killed by Gujarat CM Norendra Modi and it can not see by High court or Supreme court ??? No problem by 11 death but past 2 years onwards INDIA is going on with out terror tension and peace full and now it will create again.........
01-03-2011 truth (india)
Death sentences for those who killed 59 hindus...yet india cant catch 1 responsible for almost 2000 dead in gujrat? the system is fine to rule upon 11 train burners but seems to fail when justice needs to be given in when a mosque is destroyed by thousands!?!? sikhs die and silence..hindus die and death sentences handed out..justice has failed fully in india...
01-03-2011 peace (india)
Very Good. The faint voice of mild, oppressed and fragmented Hindus got some justice at last. Every body till today talked and published only about Post Godhra and Media Made Villain Narendra Modi. Yes Sikhs and Hindu Kashmiris must also get justice. Sikhs Riot first and foremost.
01-03-2011 Asimov
Lets be honest in accepting that Riots are always Political in nature. Sikhs were denied justice because riots were organized by the most influential party who has been in power for past 7 years as well. It is in their interests to keep the case under wraps. On the other hand, it's in Gujarat government's interest to see that the culprits are assigned punishment in this case. I want these culprits to be punished, and also I don't want the perpetrators of riots to be allowed to go free.
01-03-2011 SurlySurdi (India)
Hindus die, Muslims die, Sikhs die. Ultimately it's all so sad, wives losing husbands, children losing parents, people being butchered, relatives left crying on the floor knowing they'll never hear that voice or feel the warmth of that hug they used to give you. We all go but this is no way to do it. I feel sorry for us ALL that we have made the world we live in. But, my sorrow will not extend to the convicted, their sentences should be carried out. End.
01-03-2011 Jayhind (India)
Since all the convicted are from Muslim community, I don't think that the death sentence will at all be executed. The judgement after about 9 years, Still a long way to go.... to High court.....to Supreme Court...... Marcy pitition to President. By then all political parties will start crying for them for the sake of muslim vote.
01-03-2011 SENs' (INDIA)
Why only to talk about the Gujrat aftereffects. The worst also happened in Mau / UP where hundreds were burnt alive inside there houses,courtyards under the shadow of a mafia don who till date remains untouched.Shameful Indian Politics
01-03-2011 Firoz (India)
Good. Now, let the judiciary now award 100 death sentences to those involved in the resulting riot.. Starting with the gujarat chief minister for openly supporting this rhetoric. Anyone listening???
01-03-2011 abc (india)
The verdict proves that india is a hindu dominated country, and hindus are superior to other religions in india