Gulbarg massacre: Teesta Setalvad to appeal against 'diluted, weak' verdict

Setalvad said they had also asked for compensation for the survivors under Section 357 of the Criminal Procedure Code

A highly disappointed civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad on Friday dubbed the verdict in the Gulbarg Society massacre case as a 'diluted and weak' judgement while stating that she would appeal against the same.

"11 people had to be given life imprisonment since they were convicted in serious offences, but the biggest disappointment for us that rest of them including those 12 people, who have been given seven years of imprisonment," said Setalvad.

"We believe, when a person is convicted under Section 436 of wilful arson and 149 then there should have been a life imprisonment under these also. And in that sense, it is very much diluted judgement and a weak judgement to which we will surely be appealing," she added.

She further said that they had asked for compensation for the survivors under Section 357 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

"We don't know how the judge has dealt with it," she added.

A special SIT court today awarded life imprisonment to 11 persons convicted for murder, 12 were given seven years imprisonment and one was given 10 years jail in connection with the Gulbarg Society massacre case.