Gujarat HC to hear appeals over Godhra train burning incident from 18 February

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court will conduct from 18 February a day-to-day hearing on appeals in the case of burning the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express in February 2002, near Godhra station in which 59 karsevaks were killed. [caption id=“attachment_2092273” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Gujarat High Court will hear appeals over the Godhra train burning incident from 18 February. Reuters[/caption] Justice Anant Dave of the Gujarat High Court will hear appeals of 31 convicts of the case. On 22 February, 2011, special trial court judge PR Patel had convicted 31 people for murder and criminal conspiracy to burn alive 59 karsevaks in the Godhra train carnage case. Eleven people were given death sentence while 20 others were awarded life imprisonment. The special trial court had also acquitted 63 people. Gujarat government, which had filed the appeal after three years, sought death sentence for 20 people who were awarded life terms. The kin of the victims had also sought the death sentence for all convicts who had challenged the verdict of the special trial court. Earlier, the convicts had made representations to acting Chief Justice VM Sahai that their appeals should be conducted before a High Court bench which does not comprise Justice Sonia Gokani. PTI