Ahmedabad, October 30
Eight persons including a BJP panchayat leader were sentenced to life by a Godhra Court for murdering seven members of a family including two minor girls who were also gangraped in one of the most shocking post-Godhra riots cases in Gujarat.

Chandrasinh Parmar, a former chief of Kalol taluka panchayat, and seven others were convicted by Additional Sessions Judge H M Dholakia who also gave three-year terms to three persons in connection with the communal killings on March 3, 2002 in Eral village in Panchmahals district. Other convicts too are also alleged to be part-time VHP activists. The judge however acquitted 29 others in the case.

The eight lifers were convicted under Section 302 of the IPC of whom three were also held guilty for having gangraped two minor girls.

Besides Parmar, others who got life-sentences were Ganpat Parmar, Dulsinh Parmar, Mahendra Chatrasinh, Ashok Chatrasinh, Narendra alias Gano Parmar, Mahesh Alias Chappo Chandrasinh and Kanubhai Bhalo. Narendra, Mahesh and Kanubhai were those also convicted for rape.

Raju, Vinod and Bhalal got a three-year term after they were convicted for being involved in loot and violence.

The police had filed three chargesheets in the case after Madinabibi Sheikh, the complainant and a key witness, filed a complaint. Her daughter and niece were gangraped.

The seven victims were Ismail Jamal, Uriben Ismail, Adambhai, Tajubibi, a minor boy Taufique, minor girls Shabana (Madinabibi’s daughter) and Sohana (Madinabibi’s niece).

When asked whether she was happy with the verdict, Madinabibi replied in the negative. “No, I am not. Out of the 40 people only 11 have been convicted. I am very sad and disappointed. In fact, the ones who raped the girls have gone free.” — PTI

New Delhi, October 30
In a bid to counter the possible impact of Congress general-secretary Rahul Gandhi’s campaigning on the state’s electorate, Gujarat Chief Minister has dared him to convince people of his state about his brand of politics.

Let Gujarat be a training ground for him and let him use all his skills to convince the people of Gujarat about his politics, Modi said on the Congress’ proposed move to field Gandhi to counter him during the December Assembly poll.

Appearing on a TV News channel, the Chief Minister said in this election, people have already set the agenda, not any political party . Evading a reply when asked why his colleagues feel proud of bragging about the riots, Modi said “Let them (critics) do it (attack) but I am focused on development of the state.”

In the midst of a fresh controversy triggered by a sting operation on the 2002 post-Godhra riots, Modi said he was not averse to anybody’s love for minorities, but was certainly against ‘minority-ism’ in politics.