22 convicted in Dipda Darwaja Gujarat riots case, 61 acquitted

Mangalore Today /NDTV

Ahmedabad, July 30: Twenty two people have been convicted, but 61 accused, including a former BJP MLA Prahlad Gosa, have been acquitted in the Dipda Darwaja 2002 Gujarat riots case.

On February 28, 2002, an entire family of 11, including two children, were hacked to death by a rioting mob at Dipda Darwaja area of Visnagar town in Mehsana district. The bodies were then set on fire.

 

 

Of the 22 people convicted, 21 have been found guilty only of attempt to murder under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code or IPC; none has been convicted of murder under Section 302 of the IPC. A former police inspector, MK Patel, has been held guilty for dereliction of duty. Quantum of sentence is expected to be pronounced after 3 pm today.

The judge gave the former BJP MLA, Mr Gosa, the benefit of doubt while acquitting him.

Charges had initially been framed against 83 accused, including three women, but the court later allowed the application of complainant Mohammad Iqbal Baloch, listing Mr Gosa and the policeman Mr Patel, as additional accused in the case, taking the total number to 85. Later, one accused was found to be a minor and one died during trial.

The Dipda Darwaja massacre is one of the nine cases, including the Godhra train burning case, that was investigated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on orders of the Supreme Court. It is the second case of rioting where among the accused there are three women who were charged with murder and other crimes. Former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani and other two women were tried in the Naroda Patiya case, verdict in which is expected next month.