Local court sentences 4 to life in post-Godhra case

Ahmedabad, May 18: A local court today sentenced four persons to life imprisonment for murdering an Insurance employee during the post-Godhra riots in 2002, while two others were acquitted due to lack of evidences.

Additional Session Court Judge D T Soni convicted four -- Fakruddin alias Fakru Kamruddin Mirza, Mohammed Zahir Ansari, Zakir Hussain Saiyyad, Mohammed Afzal Sheikh -- for murdering Devendra Solanki, a LIC surveyor, on night of March 30, 2002, and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

However, he acquitted Yusuf Miththun Actor and Azibul Babulal for lack of evidence.

Devendra was forcibly taken away by an armed mob of some 20-odd persons near Vankar Vaas locality of labour=dominated Gomtipur area of the city around 2200 hours on night of March 30, 2002.

His body was found on April 12, 2004 by the police in a mutilated condition. Devendra's identification was made after DNA test conducted on the corpse.

Devendra, who was posted as LIC surveyor at Radhanpur town in Patan district, was returning to the city to spend the week-end with his family.

UNI