2002 Gulbarg society massacre: 11 get life imprisonment

The special SIT court on Friday awarded life imprisonment to 11 convicts in the 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre case.

None of the 24 convicts have been given a death penalty.

12 of the remaining people out of the 24 have been convicted for lesser offences and have been sent to 7 years in jail.

One of the convict accused for lesser offences will have to serve a jail term for 10 years.

The verdict was passed after a 14-year-long trial.

The 2002 Gulbarg Society case shook the nation when a mob set about attacking the society in the heart of Ahmedabad and killed the residents, including Congress MP Ehsaan Jafri.

It is one of the nine cases of the 2002 Gujarat riots probed by the Supreme Court-appointed SIT.

The incident had taken place a day after S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was burnt near Godhra train station on February 27, 2002 during which 58 'karsevaks' were killed.

Most of the victims weren't quite happy with the quantum of punishment awarded to the convicts and said they will decide on the further course of action.

Activist Teesta Setalvad one of the activists who has championed the cause of the victims since the incident said, "We are disappointed with the sentence. We had sought life term for all the 24 convicted. We will appeal against the sentence in a higher court. There is no reason for a lesser punishment for any of them."

Deceased Congress MP Ehsaan Jafri's wife Zakia expressed disappointment with the verdict and asked why the seven people were given lenient sentences even when there was adequate proof against them.