SinSinati Kids!

This is nothing to do with the Steve McQueen starer classic Cincinnati Kid. It is all about modern days Rana Prataps and Jhansi Ki Ranis. The word terrorism is most ugliest word present in the dictionary. There are many face of it but nothing to do with particular religion. It is true that with the oil exploration in the countries in Persian Gulf there are no dearth for the fund when it comes to kill on your will. However, terrorism is not related to any particular religion. With Babri Masjid demolition India became hotbed for different kind of terrorism. Mumbai bore the burnt more than any other city. I was there in Mumbai during 90’s and experienced all, the riots and the 93 bomb blast. The real culprits were the men behind the demolition of Babri Masjid and should have been punished. As Godhra incident was heinous crime but Gujarat riots and Naroda Patiya massacre was even more grievous. Two persons, who are from so-called saffron brigade planned and executed it. One of them proudly described himself as Rana Pratrap and other may be felt like Jhansi ki Rani, both of them led a mob and goes on to massacre 97 innocent peoples those may be nothing to do with the Godhra incident. It is for the first-time I can say ‘hats of to the judiciary system and  Dr. Joystna Yagnik’. All these years we saw rich and famous getting away while poor languishing behind the bar. Sometime judgment such as Jessica Lal and some such cases were the mockery in the name of  the justice. In this case it took long but justice is not denied. When Peoples from different religions had some problem with some of the states and its dirty foreign policy, instead of taking it to the real culprits they goes on killing spree and the victims are only the innocent citizen.  Some fact file about Naroda Patiya Massacres.

The Victims

28 February, 2002, a mob of approximately 5000 people, allegedly lead by the BJP and the Bajrang Dal, attacked and attempted to burn the entire Muslim community of Naroda Patiya. Cases of hacking, looting, stabbing and sexual assaults, as well as incidents of gang-rape in public in which the victims were eventually burnt, were also reported. During the attacks, many people were burnt alive and their bodies thrown in a dry well. Women and girls were sexually assaulted, raped and killed, their bodies were burned. Many of the killings were done either by hacking or chasing people into a huge pit and setting it on fire.

The Accused

Among 32 convicted, former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani and Babu Bajrangi were described as ring leader.

Maya Kodnani, a gynaecologist inducted as minister of state for women and child development by Narendra Modi in 2007, is the first former minister to be found guilty in any case relating to the riots.

Babu Bajrangi was accused of disemboweling a pregnant woman with a sword. He was a leader of Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of a Hindu nationalist organisation affiliated with the BJP. Its extremist activities have sometimes embarrassed the party.

Suresh Dedawala (Richard) alias Langado was caught on camera in a Tehelka sting operation, talking to Bajarangi about slitting the belly of a pregnant Muslim woman, Kauserbanu, extricating her fetus, and then killing it as well with a sword. He was convicted of rape and murder along with his accomplices. Recounting the burning and hacking of Muslims in that sting operation, Bajrangi had gloated: “I felt like Maharana Pratap after killing them. I don’t care if I’m hanged.”

In the violence, "extensive" use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was reported, which was cited as an evidence that there was involvement of officials because of easy access to LPG.

The Ruler

Dr. Jyotsna Yagnik began her career as faculty member at Gujarat Law Society and later served as principal of I M Nanavati Law College in the city. She began her practice at City Civil and Sessions Court and was selected for judicial services and then she was appointed additional sessions judge.

The first major verdict she gave was in the Bijal Joshi gang rape case in 2008, convicting New Delhi-based businessman Sajal Jain and four others. In 2010, she gave judgment in the ISI conspiracy case under special POTA laws convicting 22.

In 2009, Gujarat High Court assigned Yagnik the Naroda Patia massacre case. Since then, she has been the only judge in SIT cases, not to have been changed or transferred. In fact, when she was transferred from the case, SIT moved the Supreme Court and got orders for her reinstatement.  As the marathon proceedings of Naroda Patia case ended on Friday, the judge scheduled trial in another sensational case - 2008 serial blasts.

It has been noted by the circles, that she spend most of the night of 30th Aug adding the final points to the path-breaking  judgment she gave on Aug 31st. She insisted that judgment be translated in Gujarati, so the accused would understand it. She took 402 days over three years to study and hear the Naroda Patiya case.

The Judgment

Kodani was given 28 years prison term, while Bajrangi to be remain in the jail until death. Kodani received two sentences, first 10 years under Indian Penal Code Section 326 and second life imprisonment of 18 years, under Section 302 and others, however her sentences are set to run consecutively, making it 28 years in all. Out of the rest of 30 convicts, 22 were given a minimum 14 years and 7 were given minimum 21 years prison term.

!!!First time in a judgment, rich or poor served in the same dish. Kudos!!!