Gulberg massacre: Quantum of punishment to be pronounced on 17 June

The Ahmedabad Court on 13 June deferred pronouncing the quantum of sentence for the 24 convicted in the Gulberg massacre to 17 June.

The SIT Court had earlier deferred it to 10 June.

During the hearing, the defence said that the eight witnesses have not been able to recognise the convicts and on this basis, minimum punishment should be given.

On 2 June, Special Court Judge PB Desai had convicted 24 of the 66 accused in the massacre - which claimed the lives of 69 people, including former Congress MP Eshan Jafri.

The special court acquitted 36 others, including sitting BJP corporator Bipin Patel, and also dropped the conspiracy charge against all accused. The court said there is no evidence of criminal conspiracy in the case, while dropping the charges under Section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Of the 66 accused, six died during the trial. Of the 24 convicted, 11 were charged with murder, while 13 others were convicted for lesser offences.

The Gulberg Society massacre took place a day after a coach of the Sabarmati Express was burnt near Godhra station on 27 February, 2002, during which 58 'karsevaks' were killed.