Godhra’s ground zero erupts in celebration

After nine years of agonising wait caused by the aftermath of February 27, 2002, incident, the Muslim ghetto of Signal Falia adjacent to the ground zero in Godhra railway station seemed lit up with joy on Tuesday. Soon as the news of acquittals started breaking in, Falia erupted with cheers from people. The road suddenly saw a sea of people popping up from houses to meet the  families of the accused. They laughed, sighed and thanked the almighty.

Though families of the 63 accused acquitted welcomed the judgment, many hearts sank after the revelation that 31 were convicted.

Since morning all Godhra roads looked normal. Shops were opened and people were seen busy with their routine work. But areas surrounding Muslim-dominated localities such as Signal Falia, Rahmatnagar and Vejalpur road wore a deserted look. These are places where most accused come from.

“I knew it from the beginning that my father was innocent. His acquittal is the best moment of my life,” Sayeed Umarji said. Sayeed’s father Maulvi Hussain Hazi Ibrahim Umarji was the prime accused.

He was acquitted by the special court in Ahmedabad. Umarji’s house was thronged by the media and his relatives welcomed the verdict.

Umarji’s family was glued to the TV that kept flashing the judgment news. His brother Maulvi Abdulla told DNA that he had never doubted that his brother would not be punished.

Similar was the atmosphere at the house of Mohammad Hussain Kalota, former president of Godhra municipality and also a prime accused in the case. When DNA reached his house, his family was immersed in prayers, which they later said were heard.

“It had to happen. We never had the slightest doubt that my father will be punished. We are happy with the judgment,” Kalota’s son Mehfooz said.

“Kalota house had become a religious place with all the families and relatives praying for him. They were glued to the TV for news,” a neighbour of the Kalotas said.