Godhra train carnage case transferred to sessions court

A special POTA court here on Friday transferred Godhra train burning case, in which 59 people were killed resulting in widespread communal riots in Gujarat in 2002, to Panchmahals district sessions court.

The decision follows the Gujarat High Court's recent order rejecting the plea of one Sardarji Maganji Vaghela who had challenged recommendations of POTA Review Committee to not charge the accused in the case under POTA.

Special POTA Court judge Jyotsna Yagnik, in her order, said that all the files and papers as well as custody of the accused should be handed over to the district court.     The court decision means that the accused, who were facing trial under the repealed anti-terrorism law, will now be tried under the IPC.

The decision of the High Court not to overrule the findings of the POTA Review Committee has been challenged by Vaghela in the Supreme Court. The state government has also challenged the decision in the apex court.