Massacre accused denied bail by HC

Justice RH Shukla of the Gujarat high court has rejected bail pleas of eight accused who were arrested in connection with the Sardarpura massacre case.

Those denied bail are Joitaram Patel, Natvar Patel, Ashwin Patel, Kanu Patel, Babu Patel, Babu Kanji Patel, Ramesh Patel and Dahya Patel. The massacre had happened on March 1, 2002 at Sardarpura village of Mehsana district. A group of rioters had attacked a minority-dominated area in the small village. As many as 33 people were killed and 20 injured in the attack.

VH Patel, counsel of the accused, submitted that the accused were arrested merely on the basis of statements of witnesses. The witnesses had implicated them in their statements after five years of the incident. 

Countering the argument, JM Panchal, special prosecutor of SIT (Special Investigation Team), submitted that there was prima facie case against the accused. Trial of the case had already begun and deposition of 11 witnesses had been completed. The accused can't be enlarged on bail looking to the gravity of the case.

The state government has constituted a special court for the trial of Sardarpura masscare case in Mehsana. Special prosecutors have also been appointed for the case.