Indian court convicts 32 persons for killing 97 Muslims in 2002

In a much-awaited judgment having far-reaching political implications, a Special Court in Western state of Gujarat held guilty as many as 32 persons, including a woman political leader (a former state minister), for killing around 97 Muslims more than a decade ago. The Special Court convicted them for killing the innocent Muslims in the state's "Naroda Patiya" area after the infamous Godhra train burning incident in which more than 60 persons, mostly Hindus, were burnt alive. Former state minister and a leader of ruling party in the state - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mayaben Kodnani and one Hindu fundamentalist leader Babu Bajrangi are among the 32 persons convicted today. They were held guilty of leading mobs and instigating the people to kill Muslims to avenge the Godhra train burning incident. The court judgment would have far reaching political implications even as the state is set to witness general elections later this year, and state Chief Minister and BJP leader Narendra Modi is most likely to face flak from Opposition parties and society as a whole over his Government's role in the riots. On February 28, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident, a rioting mob had attacked "Naroda Patiya" area killing as many as 97 Muslims. The incident took place during a strike call given by the rightist organization Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).