Gulberg Society massacre: Hearing on quantum of punishment adjourned till 9 June

On 6 June, a special Ahmedabad court adjourned the hearing on the quantum of punishment in the 2002 Gulberg Society riots case till 9 June.

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 train station on 27 February 2002 during which 58 'karsevaks' were killed.

--With ANI inputs