New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) Rajya Sabha member and senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Friday criticized the Gujarat court’s decision to acquit all 67 accused in the Naroda Gam riot case and raised the question whether “we should follow the rule of law”. Should we welcome it or be disappointed that it’s over?
A special court in Gujarat on Thursday acquitted all 67 accused, including former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani and former Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, in the 2002 Naroda Gam riots case. The special court’s ruling came more than two decades after 11 members of the Muslim community were killed in Ahmedabad’s Naroda Gam during the post-Godhra riots.
Sibal tweeted about the decision, “Naroda Gam: 11 of our citizens were killed, including a 12-year-old girl. After 21 years, 67 accused were acquitted. Should we welcome the rule of law or be disappointed at its end? He then told reporters, “Somebody was killed. It is the job of the investigating agency to find out who did it (the killings). Investigating agencies found out. Is it not the failure of the investigating agencies that they could not bring them to justice?
Sibal said, “Are the investigating agencies seeking acquittal or punishment? I am sure the investigating agency will not file an appeal. I wonder whether the courts will remain mute spectators to the stories of injustice coming out during the hearings? Ahmedabad-based Special Investigation Team (SIT) cases special judge S.K. Of. Bakshi’s court has acquitted all the accused in this major case related to Naroda Gam riots.
Riots broke out across the state after a bogie of the Sabarmati Express was set on fire in Godhra on 27 February 2002. The case was investigated by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team, following which riots took place at Naroda Gam. There were a total of 86 accused in the case, of whom 18 died during the trial, while one was convicted by the court. He was already acquitted for lack of evidence under Section 169 of the Code (CrPC).
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