Charges in Gulberg massacre likely to be framed today

Charges are likely to be framed against the accused in the Gulberg society massacre case on Thursday.  Around 65 people are accused in the case of which five are in jail.
Earlier the Gujarat High Court had appointed sessions judge BU Joshi as special judge in the case.  Sources said that charges are likely to be framed against BJP corporator, Bipin Patel, Megh Sinh Chaudhary, VHP leader Atul Vaidya and others.

Vijay Sharma, defence lawyer appearing for the accused said, "Charges are likely to be framed against some people in the case."

Earlier, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court arrested Bulsar district deputy superintendent of police, Kiritsinh Erda, in connection with the Gulberg Society massacre during the 2002 communal riots.

Erda was the then senior police inspector in-charge of the Meghaninagar police station in whose jurisdiction the Gulberg Society area in Chamanpura locality fell. More than 40 people, including former Congress member of the Lok Sabha, Ahesan Jafri, were burnt to death during the mayhem on February 28, 2002.

Besides other witnesses, Jafri's wife Zakia had complained to the SIT against Erda, claiming that the police officer did not come for help despite repeated pleas by the residents.

Earlier the Supreme Court had turned down a plea to shift the trial of the case outside the state as the victims had claimed that the court cannot function impartially in Gujarat.
Moreover, for the speedy trial in the cases, special courts were set up on a day-to-day basis. 

Zakia Jafri had welcome the Supreme Court's decision to hold the 2002 riots cases in Gujarat saying that though they had petitioned the apex court that the cases be shifted to some other state, they are happy with the decision of the court to hold the trial of the cases on a day-to-day basis.