By IANS,
Ahmedabad : A special court hearing the 2002 Gulberg society massacre case Thursday allowed the prosecution to book the accused under more provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including attempt to commit dacoity and criminal trespass.
Special Judge B.J. Dhandha allowed the accused to be charged for the offences punishable under IPC sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to order of a public servant), 337 (voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, 398 (attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon), 447 (punishment for criminal trespass) and 449 (house trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death).
The judge refused the prosecution’s plea to book the accused also for the offences punishable under IPC section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs.50).
The Supreme Court-appointed special investigating team (SIT) had earlier filed the plea before the court claiming that there existed evidence to charge them with these offences.
A total of 66 accused in the case have been booked by the investigating agency on various charges. These charges include murder, attempt to murder, joining unlawful assembly and voluntarily causing hurt.
Sixty-nine people, including ex-MP Ehsan Jaffri, were killed when a violent mob attacked Gulberg Society Feb 28, 2002 in Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad.
In all, 338 witnesses have been examined and proceeding are being held in court.