The Gujarat High Court on Monday sentenced seven persons to life imprisonment in a case related to the 2002 post-Godhra riots at Viramgam in the district where three people had been killed. The court also upheld the conviction by the trial court of two others for murder, and acquittal of Devabhai Samatbhai Bharwad, another accused.
The division bench of Justices Harsh Devani and Biren Vaishnav pronounced the quantum of sentence on Monday.
The seven who were sentenced to life are Satabhai alias Haider Gela Bharwad, Naranbhai Samantbhai Bharwad, Udaji Ranchhodbhai Thakor, Valabhai Gelabhai Bharwad, Viththal alias Kuchiyo Moti Bharwad, Mulabhai Gelabhai Bharwad and Merabhai Gelabhai Bharwad.
Last month the HC had convicted them under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and other sections of the IPC. The trial court in its order in 2011 had convicted four of them for lesser offences and acquitted three others.
Of the ten people accused in the case then, the trial court awarded life term to two, lesser punishment to four and acquitted the other four.
(With PTI inputs)
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