11 killed in Naroda Gam, 67 accused walk free: victims say now justices also murdered
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Ahmedabad: During the 2002 riots in Naroda Gam, eleven members of the Muslim community were killed, and 67 individuals were accused of the killings, including former Gujarat Minister Maya Kodnani, Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, and former VHP leader Jaidip Patel. Despite the fact that the case regarding the massacre of eleven people remains open 21 years after the incident, all of the accused have been acquitted by a special designed court.
The First Information Report and chargesheet named 86 individuals as accused in the case, but 18 of them died during the trial's pendency, and one was discharged, leaving 67 to face the charges of murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, and criminal conspiracy, among others.
The trial had begun in 2009 and the verdict was delivered more than 21 years after the massacre. During the verdict, 65 of the 67 accused were present in the courtroom. The trial concluded on April 5, and the principal sessions judge, S.K. Baxi, delivered the verdict. After the court announced the verdict, supporters and relatives of the accused celebrated by chanting "Jai Shri Ram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai".
Advocate Shamshad Pathan, who represented the victims, stated that the verdict was anticipated and would be challenged it in the High Court. The trial of the case, which involved 86 accused, began in July 2009, but 18 of them died during the trial's pendency, and one was discharged during the proceedings.
This was the ninth major rioting case investigated by the Supreme Court Appointed-Special Investigation Team (SIT). During the invesCourttigation, the SIT examined a total of 187 witnesses, including 113 victims and their relatives, 24 panch witnesses, 26 police witnesses, and 12 doctors, among others.
It was reported that witnesses who had given testimony in the Naroda Gam case, where all 67 accused were acquitted, described Thursday as a “black day” for the victims, terming it to be “devoid of conscience”.
One of the prosecution witnesses, Imtiyaz Ahmed Hussein Kureshi, who had identified 17 of the accused, including former VHP leader Jaideep Patel and then sitting corporators Vallabh Patel and Ashok Patel, had seen them instigating the mob and signalling them to burn down the masjid and attack specific places.
He had seen families being burnt to death and had given all the evidence. Kureshi expressed disappointment at the acquittal and said that it made victims lose faith in the judiciary. He stated that they would challenge the verdict before the Gujarat High Court.
Madinaben Arifhussain Malek, who had lost her family members in the Naroda Gam massacre, had testified before the commission but not before the court.
Sharif Malek, who had identified and testified against 13 of the accused, including Maya Kodnani and Jaideep Patel, stated that the verdict indicated that those participating in state-sponsored violence against minorities will go scot-free. He expressed disappointment and a loss of faith in the judiciary but vowed to continue fighting.
