Landmark judgement leads to convictions in Gujarat massacre case
Mumbai (AsiaNews) For Catholic human rights activists the life sentences imposed by a court judging cases related to the 2002 Gujarat communal massacres on previously acquitted defendants represents the "triumph of justice", the "vindication of truth", and an important step in stemming the "crimes of fundamentalism" in India.
Last Friday, a court in Mumbai sentenced nine people to life in prison for their role in the Best Bakery case during the Hindu-Muslim communal riots in Gujarat that left more than a thousand people dead, mostly Muslims.
The case refers to an incident involving the gruesome killing of 14 people, including 12 Muslims, on March 1, 2002, when the Best Bakery, in Vadodara, Baroda district, was attacked by a large mob. The 21 accused had been acquitted in 2004 for lack of evidence when the main eyewitness in the case, Zaheera Sheikh, turned hostile. It was later found that she had lied in court due to threats to her life from local authorities. In response to the evidence, India's Supreme Court re-opened the case and moved the trial to neighbouring Maharashtra.
Here the court found 9 of the 21 suspects guilty, 8 were acquitted and 4 could not be found. Judge Abhay Thipsay has also decided to try Zaheera Sheikh for perjury.
According to Jesuit Fr Cedric Prakash, spokesperson for the United Christian Forum for Human Rights in Gujarat, the "judgment delivered today on the Best Bakery massacre is a landmark one indeed. [The verdict] definitely helps restore the faith of the ordinary citizen in the judicial system of the country. It is the triumph of justice, the vindication of truth."
The well-known human rights campaigner added that the perjury charges levelled at the eyewitness "speaks volumes on how witnesses can fall prey to unscrupulous elements. It is important that Zaheera now finally speaks the whole truth and exposes those who have manipulated her".
"This verdict also comes as a blow to the Gujarat government, who [. . .] has practically done nothing to ensure justice for the victims," Father Prakash said.
Immediately after the massacres, human rights groups slammed the Gujarat's government, then controlled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for not stopping them and for the involvement in the clashes of local police and authorities.
Now the clergyman is waiting for the Supreme Court to re-open more cases and send them for a re-trial. "Only then will justice be done and harmony return to the communities in Gujarat".
Father Prakash's words are echoed by Dolphy D'Souza, who chairs the Bombay Catholic Sabha (BCS), a Catholic organisation in Mumbai. "I hope that this sentence will deter similar crimes against humanity perpetrated by fundamentalist forces," he said.
THE BCS stressed the role played by NGOs and other human rights groups "who had the courage to continue seeking justice".
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