By TCN Staff Writer,
New Delhi: Five days short of nine years after the gruesome train burning at Godhra railway station in Gujarat, a Special Court in the Gujarat capital will pronounce its verdict in the case on 22nd Feb. 2011 and decide the fate of 99 accused. In all 59 kar sevaks were killed in the train carnage, leading to the well-coordinated anti-Muslim massacre in the state in which thousands were killed.
All the 99 accused including five juveniles have been charged with criminal conspiracy, murder and burning of the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express near Godhra station on Feb. 27, 2002, in which 59 people, mostly ‘kar sevaks’ returning from Ayodhya, were killed. Some Hindu extremist groups, in collusion with the state administration, unleashed pogrom against the Muslim community across Gujarat.
The train set on fire in Godhra, on February 27, 2002. Photo: AP
Initially, a charge sheet was filed invoking the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Terrorism Act. However, the Central POTA Review Committee found no basis for invoking charges of terrorism against the accused that included five juveniles. This order was upheld by the Gujarat High Court, and later by the Supreme Court. So, the sessions court framed charges under the IPC. The trial held in the Sabarmati jail was completed in September 2010. The Supreme Court lifted its stay on the pronouncement of verdict on October 26, 2010, and the special court fixed Feb 22, 2011 as the date to announce its verdict. The maximum punishment likely is the death sentence.
The most interesting part of the case is the opposite conclusions of two commissions that probed the Godhra train burning case. While one said it was accident, another found conspiracy behind the fire.
The U.C. Banerjee Commission, appointed by UPA Government at the centre, concluded: The blaze is an accident. There was no possibility of inflammable liquid being used. The fire originated in the coach itself, without external input.”
However, the Justice Nanavati Commission, appointed by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government of Gujarat, said the fire was not caused by any accident but because of the petrol thrown at it.
Chronology of the Godhra case
*S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was put on fire near Godhra station on Feb. 27, 2002. In which 59 people, mostly ‘kar sevaks’ returning from Ayodhya, were killed
*99 persons were made accused. Of them, 21, including five juveniles, are on bail
*Initially, a charge sheet was filed under Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Terrorism Act in a sessions court.
*The Central POTA Review Committee found no basis for invoking charges of terrorism against the accused. This order was upheld by the Gujarat High Court, and later by the Supreme Court
*Accordingly, on June 25, 2009, the sessions court framed charges under the IPC.
*The examination of witnesses began on July 1, 2009.
*The trial held in the Sabarmati jail was completed in September 2010.
* On Oct. 26, 2010 Supreme Court lifted its stay on the pronouncement of verdict
*Then the special court announced that the verdict would be delivered on Feb. 22, 2011