Supreme Court acquits six in post-Godhra riots case

The Supreme Court on Friday acquitted six persons in a post-Godhra riots case from Gujarat and said in matters of group clashes, it was courts’ onerous duty to ensure no bystander was convicted and deprived of liberty.

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A Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra said in cases of riots in which a large number of persons were involved, courts must be “circumspect and reluctant” to rely on the testimony of witnesses who made general statements without specific reference to the accused or their roles.

The top court, therefore, set aside a Gujarat High Court order which overturned the trial court decision and convicted six persons while acquitting 12 others in the case of riot in village Vadod in the state.