In a major judicial action taken in less than a week since Tehelka expose, a Godhra sessions court on October 30 sentenced eight people to life imprisonment for one of Gujarat’s most brutal riots in Eral during the Gujarat 2002 communal violence.
The court convicted 11 of the 40 accused, but acquitted the remaining 29. Those convicted include former BJP president for Kalol taluka panchayat Chandradeep Parmar and some VHP leaders.
The lower court found Chandrasinh Ramasinh Parmar, Ganpatbhai Haribhai Parmar, Dhoolsinh Dabsinh Parmar, Mahendrasinh Chhatrasinh Parmar and Ashoksinh Chhatrasinh Parmar guilty of murdering all the seven persons of the family. They have been sentenced under Section 302 of the Indian Penal code and were not charged with rape.
Two brothers – Narendrasinh alias Gannu Chandrasinh Parmar and Mahesh alias Chakku Chandrasinh Parmar – and Kanubhai Bharatbhai Parmar were sentenced for rape as well as the murder of two girls.
Vinod Ramanbhai Vanad, Rajubhai Chandubhai Parmar and Bhailalbhai Maganbhai Parmar have been sentenced to three-year terms under IPC 436 for arson. All the three were granted bail to appeal in higher court and have been granted one month’s time.
Medina Sheikh, an eyewitness, told the court that her daughter Shabana and niece Suhana were raped by rioters on the fateful day.
The Eral family burning was one of the most sensational cases during the Gujarat riots. People in the village had hidden themselves in the nearby fields for two-three days during the riots to escape the mob. But when they tried to escape from there, Medina Sheikh, her daughter Shabana and niece Suhana were caught by the mob.
The rioters raped Shabana and Suhana, mutilated their bodies, and then burnt alive seven of the family, including the two girls, in Eral village of Panchmahal district on March 3, 2002.
All this happened right in front of Medina Sheikh. In all, Medina lost seven members of her family in the riots, but she lived to tell the gory tale of rape and murder. The people made desperate calls to the police to rescue them but in vain. The mutilated burnt bodies were found later.
There are serious complaints about the police in Panchmahal turning a blind eye to the case. The riot victims also had complained of police inaction or complicity in riots in the area.
According to the prosecution, the accused had indulged in violence, spread over two days, in Eral village in Panchmahals district. On March 2, 2002, the mob had indulged in arson and looting while on March 3, it burnt alive seven members of a family and raped two teenaged girls.