“We are back where we started,” said Zakia Jafri.
AB Wire
A Special Investigation Team Court hearing the Gulberg Society massacre case on Friday awarded life imprisonment to 11 out of 24 convicts and remaining 12 were awarded a jail sentence of seven years and accused has been sentenced to ten years.
“I am not satisfied, I am not happy. I will have to consult my lawyers again, this is not Justice.” Said a disappointed Zakia Jafri, whose husband Ehsan Jafri was among those burnt alive by a mob in 2002.
“We are back where we started,” she added.
“We welcome the verdict but we are disappointed with the lesser sentence” said activist Teesta Setalvad, who has been fighting for the families of those died in the massacre.
“We will appeal against the lesser sentence for those who haven’t awarded life imprisonment” Teesta added.
Earlier, the court had convicted 11 persons for murder and other offences, while 13 others, including VHP leader Atul Vaidya, were charged with lesser offences. The court had also acquitted 36 others, including BJP Corporation Councillor Bipin Patel.
The Gulberg Society was attacked a day after Coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express was torched in Godhra on February 27, 2002. Residents of the Gulberg Society situated in Chamanpura area of Ahemedabad was attacked by a mob and burnt down most of the houses. 69 people, including former Congress lawmaker Ehsan Jafri, were killed in the incident.