2002 Godhra case: Sentences to be pronounced on March 1

AHMEDABAD: The prosecution on Friday sought death penalty for all the 31 convicts in the Godhra train carnage case in a special court here which reserved till March 1 the pronouncement of quantum of punishment for them.

Designated Judge P R Patel heard the prosecution and the convicts inside the Sabarmati Jail here on the quantum of punishment and reserved the order for next Tuesday.

On February 22, the court while upholding the pre-planned conspiracy theory had convicted 31 people on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy and acquitted 63 others in the 2002 train burning incident, which left 59 karsevaks dead.

The incident had triggered widespread communal riots, in which over 1200 people, mainly Muslims, were killed.

After coming out of the court, special public prosecutor J M Panchal said, "We have prayed for death sentence for all the 31 convicted. We have made submission in support of our demand. The matter is now subjudice and I cannot disclose anything further. We will have to wait till March 1".

Defence lawyers A D Shah said the judge has heard the convicts who have sought leniency in their punishment.

The accused have also been convicted under IPC section 147, 148 (rioting with deadly weapons), 323, 324, 325, 326 (causing hurt), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on religious grounds), various sections of the Indian Railways Act, Prevention of Damages to Public Property Act and Bombay Police Act.