Gulbarg Massacre Case: 24 Convicted; Zakia Jafri to Appeal Again

Eleven of those convicted charged with murder; remaining 13 convicted on other charges.

The ancestral home of Zakia Jafri, at the Gulbarg Society. (Photo: Reuters)

• Special court pronounces verdict in Gulbarg Society massacre case.
  
• 24 accused convicted and 36 acquitted.
  
• Eleven of those convicted charged with murder; remaining 13 convicted of other charges.

• The court decrees no evidence of criminal conspiracy, drops Section 120 B of IPC.
  
• Quantum of punishment to be pronounced on 6 June.
  

Fourteen years after the incident, a special court in Ahmedabad acquitted 36 of the 66 accused in the Gulbarg Society massacre case, while 24 have been convicted.

The Key Convictions and Acquittals

• Convicted: VHP leader Atul Vaid who was among those who led the violence.
  
• Acquitted: BJP corporator Bipin Patel, who was also the corporator in 2002 when the massacre took place.
  
• Acquitted: KG Erda, the only police inspector accused in the case.
  
• Acquitted: Meghsinh Chaudhari, Congress corporator.
  

Also Read: Bless Us, Abba: 2002 Gulbarg Victim Ehsan Jafri’s Daughter Writes

It was a big society with 15-20 bungalows and 10 apartments with 400-500 occupants. So how can 24 people loot and burn the entire society for 24 hours and kill so many people in such a brutal manner? We will appeal the judgement in a higher court.

Zakia Jafri, Wife of Congress Parliamentarian Ehsan Jafri

Disappointed that a sitting corporator, against whom there were strong evidences, is acquitted. I have been told that conspiracy hasn’t been accepted; it is very strange. There are enough evidences.

Teesta Setalvad, Activist 

The first time I met Zakia (Jafri), I was in tears. The verdict is a mixed bag for me. I’m unhappy that more accused were not convicted. But it’s easy for me to criticise the judge. 

RK Raghavan, Former SIT Chief  

The question of why the state machinery could not prevent the massacre is yet to be answered.

Indira Jaising, Former Additional Solicitor General of India

This is a long pending case. I do hope that final justice is done to the victim and their families. Out heart goes out to them. Today at least justice will be done to some.

Tom Vadakkan, Congress Leader

We are not happy with the court’s verdict. Justice has not been properly served. 

RB Sreekumar, Former Gujarat DGP

Here’s what you need to know about the case:

A timeline of events. (Photo: Hardeep Singh/The Quint)