2002 Sardarpura riots:Hearing on convicts' bail plea adjourned

The Gujarat High Court today adjourned till February 11 the hearing on the bail application of 31 life-term convicts of 2002 Sardarpura riot case.
A two-judge bench of Justice Jayant Patel and Justice R D Kothari adjourned the matter till February 11.
A special court in Mehsana had awarded life imprisonment to all the 31 convicts in November 2011 for killing 33 people belonging to minority community in Sardarpura village in North Gujarat during the 2002 post-Godhra communal riots.
Out of total 73 accused in the case, the court had acquitted 42 persons of whom 11 were let off due to lack of evidence, while 31 persons were convicted and awarded life term.

After the Godhra train burning incident in which 59 people were burnt to death on February 27, 2002, riots broke out across the state.
A strong mob had surrounded a lane called 'Sheikh Vaas' in Sardarpura village on the intervening night of February 28 and March 1, 2002.
In their bid to escape the violent mob, the residents, all belonging to minority community, took shelter in a house owned by one Ibrahim Sheikh, but were chased by rioters who set the house ablaze, killing 33 people, including 22 women.