New Delhi: A court in Halol town in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district has acquitted 35 people in four separate post-Godhra riots of 2002. Three people were killed in the riots. Additional Sessions Judge Harish Trivedi delivered the verdict on June 12, but it came out on Thursday. In it, he slammed “pseudo-secular media and politicians” for claiming that the riots were premeditated. Naturally, there has been a sensation about it.
Riots broke out in several parts of Gujarat following the death of pilgrims in the Sabarmati Express in Godhra. It is alleged that thousands of people were killed at that time. Kalol bus stand on February 28, 2002, Riots broke out in Delol village and Derol station area. The bodies of the three were burnt to death with sharp weapons and destruction of evidence. The bodies were recovered a few days later. The 35 men were accused in the case.
However, the court felt that there was no sufficient information to prove guilt. In all, there were 52 accused in the case 20 years ago. Of them, 17 have died. All were arrested and sent to jail. All were later released on bail. During the hearing, 130 people testified. The judge said the prosecution could not produce any evidence of rioting and recovery of weapons. On the contrary, the possibility of being framed by false testimony by a different community cannot be ruled out.
