Court to pronounce sentence in Gulberg massacre

Ahmedabad, June 6 (IANS) A special sessions court is on Monday expected to pronounce the quantum of punishment to those convicted for massacring 69 people at the Gulberg Housing Society here in 2002.

Among those killed in the brutality was former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri.

In his verdict 14 years after the massacre, Special Sessions Court Judge P.B. Desai on Thursday convicted 24 people, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Atul Vaidya but rejected the charge of conspiracy.

The killings took place on February 28, 2002.

Of the 24, the court adjudged 11 guilty of murder and 13 guilty of lesser crime. Vaidya has been convicted for lesser crime under Section 436, among others, for attacking and burning shops and houses.

The court declared 36 of the 66 accused as not guilty for want of evidence and ordered their acquittal.

Those set free included Bharatiya Janata Party corporator Bipin Patel and police Inspector K.G. Erda.