Mixed emotions in court room after Godhra verdict

Ahmedabad, Feb 22 (PTI) The special court todaywitnessed mixed reactions after the verdict was delivered in2002 Godhra train burning case, with those acquitted huggingand greeting each other while those convicted feelingdejected.

According to lawyers present inside the court, thespecial Judge P R Patel after entering the court room handedover two sets of papers, one containing the list of convictsand one with names of those acquitted to both, to prosecutionas well as to the defence.

Defence lawyer Irfan Munshi said there was pin dropsilence in the court when the Judge entered with accusedlooking anxious for their fate.

The judge first called names of 63 accused and askedthem to move to other side of the courtroom as they wereacquitted, Munshi said.

Then he turned to the remaining 31 and said that theyhave been convicted for criminal conspiracy and murder, headded.

Those who were acquitted were understandably jubilant.

They hugged and greeted each other, Y A Hassan, anotherdefence advocate present in the courtroom, said.

Those convicted just stood there and later asked theirlawyers what would happen to them now, Hassan added.

Most of the accused in the case have been in jailsince 2002.