Charges framed against 93 accused in Godhra train carnage case

Ahmedabad, June 26 (ANI): Charges were framed against 93 accused in the Godhra train carnage case in which 59 persons were burnt in S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express on February 27, 2002, on Friday in a special court here.

According to the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) J. M. Panchal, the accused have been charged with murder, attempt to murder, causing grievous hurt using dangerous weapons, criminal conspiracy, rioting with deadly weapons and other sections of the Indian Penal Code,

Justice P. R. Patel, hearing the case, also reserved the order on bail applications made by 40 of the accused for July 1, the scheduled date for next hearing in the case.

The proceedings of the court are being conducted on the Sabarmati jail premises.

The court on Friday framed the charges after Supreme Court appointed special investigation team (SIT) submitted original documents related to the case.

Initially, there were 103 accused out of which five have died in the last seven years, while five others are juvenile and are in remand homes.

The accused have also been charged under the Indian Railways Act, Bombay Police Act and others.

Initially, all the accused in the Godhra train carnage case were booked under the repealed POTA before the Central Pota Review Committee (CPRC) recommended its removal.

The Godhra carnage incident, where 59 people, mainly 'karsevaks' were burnt to death near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002, had triggered communal violence across the state. (ANI)