2002 Gujarat Riots: Ahmedabad Court Acquits All 67 Accused In Naroda Gam Case

On Thursday, a special SIT court in Ahmedabad acquitted all 67 accused, which included former BJP MLA Maya Kodnani, in connection with the 2002 Naroda Gam case where during the communal riots, 11 Muslims lost their lives.

The court was set up to expedite the trial of Gujarat riot cases, and its proceedings ended on 5 April. Of the initial 86 accused, 18 were abated, one was discharged, and 67 were left to stand trial. Most recently, 65 of the remaining 67 were present in court.

Special judge Shubhada Baxi declared the verdict and was welcomed by the accused's relatives chanting “Jai Shree Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” outside the court, reported The Indian Express.

In the Naroda Patiya case, both Maya Kodnani and Bajrangi were initially convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court. However, in 2018, the Gujarat High Court overturned Kodnani's conviction and acquitted her, while upholding Bajrangi's conviction.

After the burning of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra on 27 February 2002, which led to nine major riots in Gujarat, a day-to-day speedy trial was ordered. The Naroda Gam case was one of these trials, which were assigned to designated courts and monitored by the Supreme Court.

Despite these measures, the Naroda Gam case took years to reach a verdict.

The Naroda Gam area of Ahmedabad saw 11 Muslims lose their lives on 28 February 2002, as mobs set their houses on fire in the Muslim Maholla, Kumbhar Vas locality. The incident was reported to the Naroda police station, and an FIR was registered.

The Justice Nanavati Commission, which was investigating the Gujarat riots case, recorded witness statements that claimed that the Muslims affected by the Naroda Gam incident did not receive any assistance from the police and were left vulnerable to the attackers until the evening when police finally arrived.

However, police officials who testified before the commission claimed that they were unable to reach Naroda Gam because they were occupied with managing the more critical situation at Naroda Patiya, which was happening simultaneously.