Sentencing in Gulbarg Society massacre expected today

Capital punishment justified: Spl public prosecutor

On 6 June, special public prosecutor of SIT, RC Kodekar, had told the special court that capital punishment for the 24 convicted was justified as the Gulbarg massacre was the ‘rarest of the rare’.

“The crime is rarest of the rare because the victims were roasted to death and their only crime was that they belonged to the minority community”, Kodekar said.

Sentencing expected today

A special SIT court is likely to pronounce the quantum of sentence for the 24 convicted in the Gulbarg Society massacre today, in which 69 people, including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, were killed during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The prosecution had sought nothing less than death sentence or jail term till death for all the convicts, while the defence lawyers had contested it saying that the incident was spontaneous and there were enough provocations for it.

Sentencing unlikely today

According to CNN-News18, sentencing is unlikely today.

Defense lawyers are putting their case 

According to the defense lawyers, Supreme Court says death penalty can only be granted when there is total certainty, reported CNN-News18. The prosecution’s argument is based on partial evidence, argued the defense lawyers.

‘Will not seek death sentence for all convicted’

After the June 2 verdict, lawyer of Gulbarg victims, SM Vora, said that he will not seek death sentence for all those convicted.
“Of the 24 convicted, 11 have been charged under section 302 of IPC (murder). Court may give either capital punishment or life sentence to them,” said Vora. “Though court can give capital punishment to the convicts, we are not in favour of it. On 6 June, we will tell the court that we want life imprisonment till death for these 11 convicts, as we are not in favour of death sentence,” Vora had said.

Court had ruled out criminal conspiracy

The court on 2 June said that there is no evidence of criminal conspiracy in the case, while dropping section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code.

I am frustrated, angry and helpless, says one of the survivors

One of the many survivors of the 28 February, 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre, Imtiyaz Khan Pathan, who is an electrician, is shocked that “only 24” people have been adjudged guilty by a special sessions court.

“I have myself given names of many more people than the 24 that have been convicted. Twenty three of these 24 were identified by me. Only 11 of them have been charged for murder,” he told Firstpost.

Prosecution to seek capital punishment for 11 convicted

Of the total 66 accused, six had died during the trial. Of the 24 convicted, 11 have been charged with murder, while 13 others, including VHP leader Atul Vaid, have been convicted for lesser offences. The prosecution is likely to seek capital punishment for the 11 convicted who were charged with murder.

‘Accused should get maximum punishment’

Prosecution builds case for death penalty considering the brutal nature of the crime. Zakia Jafri, who have been fighting the case for 14 years, also wants the perpetrators to get maximum punishment.

‘Appeal in higher court’

After the June 2 verdict, social activist Teesta Setalvad, who has been fighting for the victims of Gulbarg Society, said they will study the judgement in depth and appeal in the higher court.

Case of mass murder: Prosecution

Prosecution said that the Gulbarg Society case is of mass murder and exemplary punishment should be given. Special public prosecutor also said that victims were tortured without provocation. 

#GulbargVerdict sentencing shortly;Special public prosecutor says gravity of crime is heinous,victims were roasted alive without provocation

— News18 (@CNNnews18) June 6, 2016

#GulbargVerdict | This is a case of mass murder and exemplary punishment should be meted out: Prosecution pic.twitter.com/vsWyJdWsbt

— News18 (@CNNnews18) June 6, 2016

War of words between BJP and Congress

The verdict in Gulbarg Society riot case on 2 June sparked a war of words between BJP and Congress in Gujarat. Welcoming the judgement, state BJP president Vijay Rupani said the verdict gives a “clean chit” to Modi and BJP President Amit Shah.
On the other hand, senior Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela expressed dissatisfaction over the judgement and alleged people were killed during the 2002 riots at the “behest” of the BJP government of that time.

Court proceedings start

The accused have been brought to court and the proceedings have begun. “I hope that those involved in the massacre to get the maximum possible punishment,” said Ehsan Jafri’s son Tanvir after the June 2 verdict.

Prosecution likely to seek capital punishment 

Prosecution likely to seek capital punishment for 11 convicted. The lawyer representing the victms may seek life imprisonment. 

Prosecution likely to seek capital punishment for 11 convicted, victims' lawyer may seek life imprisonment #GulbargVerdict

— News18 (@CNNnews18) June 6, 2016

Mixed feelings over conviction: RK Raghavan

Former CBI Director RK Raghavan, who headed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe cases, including the Gulbarg Society massacre, also expressed disappointment over the acquittals.

“We did our best with all the facts before the court. It refused to buy our story. The court has believed us partly by not convicting all the accused. It shows the mettle of the Indian judiciary. They just want the Investigating Officer to place all the facts. And it is for the court to make a decision,” the ex-SIT chief said.

Gulbarg Society accused brought to court 

A special SIT court on 2 June convicted 24 of the 66 accused, including a VHP leader. Out of the 66 accused, six had died during the trial. Of the 24 convicted, 11 have been charged with murder, while other 13 have been convicted for lesser offences.

Zakia Jafri disappointed over the verdict

Zakia Jafri, wife of Congress MP Ehsaan Jafri, expressed her disappointment over the verdict. “No I am not satisfied with the verdict. I did not like it. All should have been given punishment for what they did and what they did not. I know it all and as I have seen the massacre. I expected all to be convicted…how they killed people, how they made them homeless, I saw it myself. I can’t dare to ask for capital punishment but maximum punishment should be given. They should be given life imprisonment so they could know the pain of staying away from their family and children,” she said after the 2 June verdict.

Quantum of punishment in Gulbarg Society case to be announced shortly | CNN-News18

Special SIT court in Ahmedabad will be announcing the punishment for the 24 convicts soon

Too little, too late?

Firstpost‘s Sanjay Singh wonders if 14 years on, the Gujarat riots have lost their political relevance.

An eyewitness account of the massacre

Here’s the story of Imtiyaz Khan Pathan, a 25-year-old who survived the Gulbarg Society massacre.

“Murder? Simple murder, any other murder just like you see day in and day out on TV? Thousands of people coming together, pulling people out of their homes like furniture, cutting them into pieces and then burning them. Is this plain simple murder? Wah! Wah!”

Quantum of punishment for 24 accused to be announced today

On Thursday, Special Court Judge PB Desai had convicted 24 of the total 66 accused in the Gulbarg Society massacre.

Among those convicted was VHP leader Atul Vaid.

The prosecution is believed to be seeking capital punishment for the 11 convicted of murder