Gulbarg Society massacre

2022-08-14T03:29:33Z

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{{Short description|Massacre of a Muslim neighbourhood in Ahmedabad during the 2002 Gujarat Riots}}
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{{Use dmy dates}}

{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Gulbarg Society massacre
| location = [[Chamanpura]], [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]]
| date = 28 February 2002
| partof = [[2002 Gujarat riots]]
| image = Gulbarg Society massacre.jpg
| caption = Burnt house of Gulbarg Society after the massacre
| map =
| map_caption = Location of Gulbarg Society in Gujarat.
| target = [[Muslims]]
| type = [[Genocide]] and [[ethnic cleansing]]
| fatalities = 69 deaths

}}

The '''Gulbarg Society massacre''' took place on 28 February 2002, during the [[2002 Gujarat riots]], when a crowd started stone pelting the Gulbarg Society, a [[Muslim]] neighbourhood in the eastern part of [[Chamanpura]], [[Ahmedabad]]. Most of the houses were burnt, and at least 35 victims, including a former [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] Member of Parliament, [[Ehsan Jafri]], were burnt alive, while 31 others went missing after the incident, later presumed dead, bringing the total deaths to 69.<ref name="ye"/><ref name="ex"/><ref>[[#Sh|Shelton, p. 502]]</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/the-gulbarg-society-massacre-what-happened-17556.php|title=The Gulbarg Society massacre: What happened|publisher=NDTV}}</ref><ref name=sa>{{cite news| title =Safehouse of Horrors| work =Tehelka| url =http://www.tehelka.com/story_main35.asp?filename=Ne031107safehouseofhorrors.asp&page=1| date =3 November 2007| access-date =15 May 2010| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090429102953/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main35.asp?filename=Ne031107safehouseofhorrors.asp&page=1| archive-date =29 April 2009| url-status =dead}}</ref>

The [[Supreme Court of India]] had stayed the trial in major Gujarat cases on petitions filed by the [[National Human Rights Commission of India|National Human Rights Commission]] and the Citizens for Justice and Peace, who sought a probe by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] and transfer of the cases outside Gujarat. The SC bench on 26 March 2008, directed<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/27/stories/2008032754591300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327200216/http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/27/stories/2008032754591300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=27 March 2008 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Notify SIT in ten days: court | date=27 March 2008}}</ref> the Gujarat government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by R. K. Raghavan, a former head of the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) in the case. It reopened nine crucial riot cases. Seven years after the incident, in February 2009, Erda, the Deputy Superintendent of Police with the [[Gujarat Police]] at the time was arrested on charges of dereliction of duty and for tampering with evidence, as some survivors alleged that he not only allowed the killings to happen but also helped rioters to burn the dead bodies.<ref name="er">{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/erda-exdy-sp-arrested-for-role-in-2002-gujarat-riots/84965-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012043456/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/erda-exdy-sp-arrested-for-role-in-2002-gujarat-riots/84965-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 October 2012|title=Erda, ex-Dy SP arrested for role in 2002 Gujarat riots Gaurav Shaha and Meghdoot Sharon|publisher=CNN-IBN}}</ref> The SIT finally submitted its report on 14 May 2010 to the apex court registry of the Supreme Court, after which the Supreme Court asked the SIT to look into the doubts raised by ''amicus curiae'' Raju Ramchandran.<ref name="ex">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Apex-court-SIT-submits-report-on-Gulbarg-Society-massacre/Article1-543728.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606060611/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Apex-court-SIT-submits-report-on-Gulbarg-Society-massacre/Article1-543728.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2011|title=Apex court SIT submits report on Gulbarg Society massacre|work=Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/timeline-zakia-jafri-vs-modi-in-2002-gujarat-riots-case/article1-1166448.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226234511/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/timeline-zakia-jafri-vs-modi-in-2002-gujarat-riots-case/article1-1166448.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 December 2013|title=Timeline: Zakia Jafri vs Modi in 2002 Gujarat riots case|author=Hindustan Times|work=www.hindustantimes.com | access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="dt"/> SIT submitted its entire report including case papers, witnesses' testimonies and other details on 15 March 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/timeline-sit-probe-in-the-2002-gujarat-riots-cases/441621-3-238.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101145701/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/timeline-sit-probe-in-the-2002-gujarat-riots-cases/441621-3-238.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 January 2014|title=Timeline: SIT probe in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases|work=IBNLive|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/how-sit-report-on-gujarat-riots-exonerates-modi-the-highlights/256848-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403112916/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/how-sit-report-on-gujarat-riots-exonerates-modi-the-highlights/256848-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 April 2013|title=How SIT report on Gujarat riots exonerates Modi: The highlights|work=IBNLive|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/article521918.ece|title=Gujarat riots: SIT's 2010, 2012 reports differ|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> On 17 June 2016, eleven people convicted of murder in the Gulbarg Society massacre were sentenced to life in jail by a special SIT court.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/11-of-24-convicts-in-Gulbarg-Society-massacre-sentenced-to-life-in-jail/articleshow/52791745.cms|title=11 of 24 convicts in Gulbarg Society massacre sentenced to life in jail|website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=17 June 2016}}</ref>

The Society, with most of the houses damaged or burnt, was later abandoned. Of the eighteen houses which were burnt, only one has been repaired. Although none of the families returned, some of them congregate each year on the anniversary of the event and offer prayers.<ref>[http://www.daylife.com/photo/01kddwZ2r3b68 People congregate at the abandoned Gulbarga Society on the eighth anniversary of the massacre..] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301221922/http://www.daylife.com/photo/01kddwZ2r3b68 }} daylife.com, 28 February 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/gulbarg-society-beyond-recognition-seven-years-after-carnage/429106/|title=Gulbarg Society beyond recognition seven years after carnage|work=The Indian Express}}</ref>

==Massacre==
At 9 am on 28 February 2002, a day after the 2002 Gujarat riots had begun, a mob shouting slogans gathered outside the Gulbarg Society in the Hindu-dominated<ref>
[http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Gulberg-massacre-14-year-battle-for-justice-against-rioting/2016/06/02/article3462993.ece Gulberg massacre: 14-year battle for justice against rioting], The New Indian Express, 2 June 2016.
</ref> Chamanpura area of Ahmedabad. The Society comprised 29 bungalows and 10 apartment buildings, housing mostly Muslim upper-middle-class business families. Many of the residents reacted to the presence of the mob by taking refuge in the home of a former Congress MP, Ehsan Jafri. It was claimed that Jafri unsuccessfully made repeated attempts to contact the police by telephone. He even called and spoke to the chief of police and chief minister for help. By noon, the mob had turned violent, breached the boundary wall and started to set fire to houses and attack residents. 69 people died during the following six hours and at least a further 85 were injured. Among the dead was Ehsan Jafri, who was hacked to death and later burnt, while at least another 35 people were either hacked to death or burned alive.<ref name="ye">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/19323/|title=Year later, Gulbarg still a ghost town|work=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref name=sa/><ref name=nd/><ref>[[#Hu|Human Rights, p. 19]]</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Ray-of-light-in-Gulbarg-gloom/Article1-405026.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606061359/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Ray-of-light-in-Gulbarg-gloom/Article1-405026.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2011|title=Ray of light in Gulbarg gloom|work=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
The [[National Human Rights Commission (India)|National Human Rights Commission]] (NHRC) said in June 2002, that it was "deeply disturbed by recent press reports stating that the chargesheets filed thus far in respect of the Gulbarg Society and [[Naroda Patiya massacre|Naroda Patiya]] incidents lack credibility in as much as they are reported to depict the victims of violence as the provocateurs."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NHRC-upset-over-bias-in-Gujarat-FIRs/articleshow/12583920.cms|title=NHRC upset over 'bias' in Gujarat FIRs|work=The Times of India}}</ref> NHRC had previously recommended that cases like [[Best Bakery case]], Gulbarg Society case, the [[Naroda Patia|Naroda Patiya]] incident and the Sardarpura case in Mehsana district be handed over to CBI.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/03/stories/2005010303341300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050104190126/http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/03/stories/2005010303341300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 January 2005|title=A test case in more ways than one|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

The Supreme Court, on 26 March 2008, ordered the [[Narendra Modi]] government to re-investigate ten cases in the 2002 Gujarat riots, including the [[Godhra train burning]] and subsequent [[Godhra]] riots, where 81 people were killed, Gulbarg Society where 68 were killed, Naroda Patia where over 100 were killed, Sardarpur where 34 were killed and Best Bakery case where 14 people were burnt alive.<ref name="cn">{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sc-tells-modi-govt-to-reinvestigate-guj-riots—in-depth/61945-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207183346/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sc-tells-modi-govt-to-reinvestigate-guj-riots%E2%80%94in-depth/61945-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 December 2013|title=SC tells Modi govt to reinvestigate Guj riots, In depth|publisher=CNN-IBN}}</ref> Zakiya Jafri, wife of Ehsan Jafri, who was burnt alive on the day, first made the complaint on 8 June 2006 alleging that the police had not registered the FIRs against [[List of Chief Ministers of Gujarat|Gujarat Chief]] Minister Narendra Modi, and 62 others including several ministers and alleging a conspiracy to allow the massacre of Muslims, which involved instructing policemen and bureaucrats not to respond to pleas for help from Muslims being attacked during the riots. The complaint included VHP leaders [[Praveen Togadia]] and [[Jaideep Patel]], DGP of the state PC Pande for abetting the riots. She then approached the [[Gujarat High Court]] with her complaint, which on 3 November 2007, refused to entertain her plea, and instead asked her to present the case before magistrate's court. Subsequently, she approached the Supreme Court of India, which on 27 April 2009 appointed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by R. K. Raghavan, a former head of the CBI, to investigate into these cases, and asked the SIT to look into her complaint of alleged collusion of the state machinery and the rioters over the two days of Gujarat riots.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Scan-Modi-SC-to-SIT/articleshow/4456959.cms|title=Scan Modi: SC to SIT|work=The Economic Times}}</ref>

In March 2009, Indian National Congress leader Meghsingh Chaudhary at the instance of SIT was arrested for active participation in the Gulbarg Society massacre.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-26/subverse/28032145_1_religious-symbols-religion-and-politics-gulbarga-society|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811064625/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-26/subverse/28032145_1_religious-symbols-religion-and-politics-gulbarga-society|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=Secularists aren't saints|last=Kishwar|first=Madhu|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> It alleged that he was a part of the armed mob, egging them on to kill the Muslims, along with others.<ref>{{cite news|title=In custody, for mentor's murder|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-custody-for-mentor-s-murder/426607/0|access-date=15 May 2013|newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref> Then in March 2010, SIT summoned Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to give an explanation regarding accusations against him in the murder of [[Ehsan Jaffri]], who was burnt alive, along with nearly 70 other people in the Gulbarg Society. He appeared before the SIT on 27 Mar 2010. Earlier, R B Sreekumar, who was Additional DG Intelligence at the time, deposed before a commission that ministers and police were "deliberately inactive during the riots" and two eyewitnesses Roopa Modi and Imtiyaz Pathan testified against Modi in the trial court. Imtiaz who lost six members of his family during the massacre, was the one to give the first eyewitness account in the trial which started in September 2009, after being held up for 7 years. He told the court that when a mob started gathering outside Gulbarg Society on 28 February, MP Jafri called Chief Minister Narendra Modi for help, yet the police refused to come for help. He identified 20 of the 100 accused, arrested in the case.<ref name=nd>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/sit-summons-modi-in-gujarat-riots-case-17552.php|title=Gujarat riots: Modi summoned by Supreme Court panel|publisher= NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/gujarat_riots_witness_speaks_out.php|title=Gujarat riots trial: Witness 'blames' Modi|publisher=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAqJ4KOB0Jo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/pAqJ4KOB0Jo |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Revisiting the Gulbarg massacre with Imtiaz Pathan|publisher=NDTV}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In all, the eyewitness who appeared before the SIT in December 2009, namely, Imtiyaz Pathan, Saeedkhan Pathan, Roopa Mody, Saira Sandhi and Rafiq Pathan named joint commissioner of police MK Tandon and Meghaninagar police inspector ND Parmar, Manish Patel alias Splendor, Mahendra Pukhraj, Jagroopsinh Rajput, Inio Harijan, Babu Marwadi and Rajesh Jinger, a constable residing in the same area, as accused.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-24/ahmedabad/28064889_1_gulbarg-society-witnesses-rajesh-jinger|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811064638/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-24/ahmedabad/28064889_1_gulbarg-society-witnesses-rajesh-jinger|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Gulbarg Society massacre: Witnesses want Tandon, 7 others named accused}}</ref>

In March 2010, the Gulbarg Society case trial was stayed by the Supreme Court after the special public prosecutor R K Shah resigned after accusing the trial judge and SIT of being "soft on the accused". He alleged that, "The SIT officers are unsympathetic towards witnesses, they try to browbeat them and don't share evidence with the prosecution as they are supposed to do."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264745|title=Nero Hour The SIT has summoned him in a Gujarat '02 case. But the trail is muddied.|work=Outlook}}</ref> Later, activist [[Teesta Setalvad]] in an affidavit filed before the Supreme court on 24 April 2010, showed the phone record analysis which indicated that "Ahmedabad police commissioner P C Pande had spoken to joint commissioner of police M K Tandon six times during the period when the latter was present at Gulbarg Society and the mob was growing restive. Though Tandon was accompanied by "striking force" equipped to disperse a riotous mob, he left Gulbarg Society without taking any corrective action and his departure led to the massacre ...".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-25/india/28149214_1_post-godhra-naroda-patiya-apex-court|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811065340/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-04-25/india/28149214_1_post-godhra-naroda-patiya-apex-court|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=Post-Godhra riots: Teesta digs up call records|first1=Manoj|work=[[The Times of India]]|last1=Mitta}}</ref>

On 14 May 2010, the SIT submitted a report under sealed cover. Prior to this, the SIT had requested additional time to report as it wanted to question VHP International president, [[Praveen Togadia]], which it did on 11 May 2010.<ref name="ex"/><ref name="dt">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Gujarat-riots—SIT-submits-report-to-SC/619192|title=Gujarat riots: SIT submits report to SC|work=The Indian Express}}</ref>

On 15 December 2010, Zakia Jafri and other victims filed an application with the Supreme Court, requesting it to direct SIT to submit the report before the Ahmedabad court as ordered by the SC, within 30 days.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zakia Jafri moves SC in Gulbarg Society case|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-16/ahmedabad/30631331_1_zakia-jafri-naroda-patiya-congress-mp-ehsan-jafri |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526081416/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-16/ahmedabad/30631331_1_zakia-jafri-naroda-patiya-congress-mp-ehsan-jafri |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Thereafter on 8 February 2012, SIT submitted its final report to a Gujarat magistrate's court, which after evaluating it would decide whether further investigation was required or not.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clean chit to Narendra Modi in Zakiya Jafri case: Sources; petitioners file fresh plea|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/clean-chit-to-narendra-modi-in-zakiya-jafri-case-sources-petitioners-file-fresh-plea-174821 |publisher=NDTV }}</ref>

In its closure report filed in the Zakia Jafri case, the SIT submitted that Jafri was killed because he provoked a "violent mob" that had assembled "to take revenge of Godhra incident from the Muslims". It further submitted that Jafri fired at the mob and "the provoked mob stormed the society and set it on fire."<ref>{{cite news|title=SIT says Ehsan Jafri 'provoked' murderous mob|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-18031124|access-date=15 May 2013|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref name=TH1>{{cite news|title=SIT says Ehsan Jafri 'provoked' murderous mob|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sit-says-ehsan-jafri-provoked-murderous-mob/article3405416.ece|access-date=15 May 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|location=Chennai, India|first=Vidya|last=Subrahmaniam}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Jafri provoked Gulbarg mob: SIT report|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-12/india/31679415_1_gulbarg-society-massacre-case-mp-ehsan-jafri-zakia-jafri|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104185347/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-12/india/31679415_1_gulbarg-society-massacre-case-mp-ehsan-jafri-zakia-jafri|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2013|access-date=15 May 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

== Sting operation ==
In October 2007, the ''[[Aaj Tak]]'' New Channel showed footage of a sting operation carried out by ''[[Tehelka]]'' magazine, wherein 14 VHP or [[Bajrang Dal]] activists, including, Madan Chawal, a Gulbarg Society massacre accused, and a [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] MLA from Godhra, Haresh Bhatt who was national vice-president of Bajrang Dal during the riots, were shown talking about the execution of the killings .<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sting-traps-footsoldiers-of-gujarat-riots-boasting-about-killings-with-state-support/232545/0|title=Sting traps footsoldiers of Gujarat riots boasting about killings with state support|work=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_modi-sanctioned-gujarat-violence-tehelka-probe_1129894|title=Modi sanctioned Gujarat violence: Tehelka probe|work=DNA (newspaper)}}</ref> The investigative journalists' reports were finally published in the 3 November 2007 issue of Tehelka as ''[[The Truth: Gujarat 2002 – Tehelka report]]''.{{citation needed}}

On 18 June 2016, Special court junked the evidence provided by investigative journalist with the observation that the entire transcript was not tendered before the probe agency or the court.<ref name="DNA newspaper">{{cite news|url=http://www.oneindia.com/india/gulberg-verdict-conspiracy-theory-requires-due-burial-2130624.html|title=Gulberg verdict: Conspiracy theory requires a due burial|work=DNA (newspaper)}}</ref>

==Allegations against Narendra Modi and SIT report==
However, in April 2012, a Special Investigation Team absolved the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of any role in the killing of Ehsan Jafri<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Gujarat/Narendra-Modi-had-no-hand-in-Jafri-killing-says-SIT/Article1-838214.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410213717/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Gujarat/Narendra-Modi-had-no-hand-in-Jafri-killing-says-SIT/Article1-838214.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 April 2012 | title=Narendra Modi had no hand in Jafri killing, says SIT | newspaper=Hindustan Times | date=10 April 2012}}</ref> Later a protest petition was filed by his wife Zakia Jafri seeking rejection of the said SIT report and Supreme Court accepted the same and the case is under process of being heard.<ref>{{cite news|title=Zakia Jafri's plea against Modi to be heard|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Gujarat/Court-may-hear-Zakia-Jafri-s-protest-plea-against-Modi-others/Article1-1049452.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424133145/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Gujarat/Court-may-hear-Zakia-Jafri-s-protest-plea-against-Modi-others/Article1-1049452.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 April 2013|access-date=16 May 2013|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref name="indianexpress.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sc-steps-in-hc-revokes-transfer-of-magistrate-hearing-zakia-plea/1114730/|work=The Indian Express|title=SC steps in, HC revokes transfer of magistrate hearing Zakia plea}}</ref><ref name="zeenews.india.com">{{cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/gujarat/hearing-on-zakia-jafri-s-plea-to-resume_848851.html|work=Zee News|title=Hearing on Zakia Jafri's plea to resume}}</ref> SIT has strongly opposed this petition<ref>{{cite news|title=SIT opposes Zakia's plea on Modi clean chit|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Ahmedabad/SIT-opposes-Zakia-s-plea-on-Modi-clean-chit/Article1-1049815.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425172249/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Ahmedabad/SIT-opposes-Zakia-s-plea-on-Modi-clean-chit/Article1-1049815.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 April 2013|access-date=16 May 2013|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref> and said that "Modi has never said that go and kill people".<ref>{{cite news|title=Modi did not incite riots: SIT|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Ahmedabad/Modi-did-not-incite-riots-SIT/Article1-1050396.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426135632/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Ahmedabad/Modi-did-not-incite-riots-SIT/Article1-1050396.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 April 2013|access-date=16 May 2013|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Later Court through Gujarat High Court stayed the routine transfer of the metropolitan magistrate hearing the petition on the information of the ''[[amicus curiae]]'', [[Harish Salve]], that the routine transfer due to the end of his term may delay the case.<ref name="indianexpress.com"/><ref name="zeenews.india.com"/> In 2004, in an interview with ''Hardnews'', Former Chief Justice of India V N Khare alleged that massacre could not have taken place without the complicity of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Khare has said that in his opinion Narendra Modi should be criminally prosecuted for genocide and manslaughter for the Gulbarga Society Massacre.<ref>{{cite news |title=I would have lodged an FIR against Narendra Modi on charges of genocide and manslaughter |url=http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2012/02/4566 |publisher=HardNews |access-date=17 May 2013 |archive-date=31 May 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/20140531124724/http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2012/02/4566 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Reacting to this observation, Modi did not make any statement but said that he could not distinguish between ''khare'' (just) and ''khote'' (unjust). He said that Khare was no longer holding the high office and his statement should be seen in this light.<ref>{{cite news|title=Justice Khare's remarks irk Gujarat CM|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Justice-Khares-remarks-irk-Gujarat-CM/articleshow/657204.cms|access-date=17 May 2013|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref>
However, in December 2013, Ahmedabad Metropolitan court rejected the petition filed by Zakia.<ref name="cleanchit2">{{cite news|title=Zakia's plea against clean chit to Modi rejected| url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/zakias-plea-against-clean-chit-to-modi-rejected/article5504467.ece|access-date=26 December 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|location=Chennai, India|first1=Darshan|last1=Desai|first2=New|last2=Delhi}}</ref> Zakia filed a Criminal Revision Application against the order in the Gujarat High Court on 15 March 2014.<ref name="cleanchit2" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/zakia-jafri-moves-gujarat-high-court-over-sits-clean-chit-to-modi/article5800700.ece|title=Zakia Jafri moves Gujarat High Court over SIT's clean chit to Modi|author=PTI|work=The Hindu|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/hc-defers-hearing-on-zakia-s-plea-against-clean-chit-to-modi-114032000478_1.html|title=HC defers hearing on Zakia's plea against clean chit to Modi|author=BS Reporter|newspaper=Business Standard India |access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/P0v0r3oto38AJKz4J8ehQL/2002-riots-Zakia-Jafri-appeals-against-clean-chit-to-Modi.html|title=2002 riots: Zakia Jafri appeals against clean chit to Modi|author=PTI|work=www.livemint.com/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2002-Gujarat-riots-Zakia-Jafri-to-move-HC-against-clean-chit-to-Modi/articleshow/29317487.cms|title=2002 Gujarat riots: Zakia Jafri to move HC against clean chit to Modi|author=Saeed Khan|work=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/gujarat-riots-jafri-questions-sit-clean-chit-to-modi-moves-hc-114031800846_1.html|title=Gujarat riots: Jafri questions SIT clean chit to Modi, moves HC|author=BS Reporter|newspaper=Business Standard India |access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> The final hearing on the case started on 4 August 2015 in Gujarat high court.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/2002-gujarat-riots-hearing-on-zakia-jafris-petition-on-conspiracy-starts/articleshow/48349132.cms|title=2002 Gujarat riots: Hearing on Zakia Jafri's petition on conspiracy starts|newspaper=The Economic Times }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2002-riots-Gujarat-HC-to-hear-Zakia-Jafris-plea-on-July-27/articleshow/47976756.cms|title=2002 riots: Gujarat HC to hear Zakia Jafri's plea on July 27|website=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/741279/cbi-raids-teesta-setalvads-home-two-weeks-before-gujarat-high-court-hears-case-against-modis-clean-chit|title=CBI raids Teesta Setalvad's home two weeks before Gujarat high court hears case against Modi's 'clean chit'|first=Mridula|last=Chari|website=Scroll.in}}</ref> In April 2014 the Supreme Court praised SIT's probe into the riot cases,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140404/nation-current-affairs/article/gujarat-riots-sc-praises-sit-probe|title=Gujarat riots: SC praises SIT probe|work=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> and also declined to reconstitute another SIT for probing Gujarat riots.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sc-junks-pil-seeking-reconstitution-of-sit-probing-gujarat-riots/|title=Supreme Court junks PIL seeking reconstitution of SIT probing Gujarat riots|work=The Indian Express|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/gujarat/gujarat-riots-sc-refuses-plea-questioning-sit-clean-chit-to-narendra-modi_923713.html|title=Gujarat riots: SC refuses plea questioning SIT clean chit to Narendra Modi|work=Zee News|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/gulberg-society-massacre-quantum-of-sentence-likely-to-be-announced-today-2842596/ | title=Gulberg society massacre: Quantum of punishment likely to be pronounced today | date=9 June 2016 | access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref>

==Court judgement ==
Gulbarg Society Massacre trial restarted at a special court with Supreme Court monitored Special Investigation Team acting as prosecution. On 18 June 2016, Court convicted 24 persons. 11 convicted for life, 1 convicted for 10 years and the remaining 12 given seven years of rigorous imprisonment.<ref name="IndianExpress newspaper">{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/11-get-life-for-gulberg-society-massacre-in-which-jafri-68-killed-2859387/|title=Court says of Gulberg massacre victim Jafri: His firing angered mob, made them kill|work=IndianExpress (newspaper)}}</ref> The judgement termed the killings "unfortunate" and the "darkest day in the civil society of Gujarat", but reiterated that "it was the private firing by Ehsan Jafri that acted as a catalyst and which infuriated the mob to such an extent that the mob went out of control…".<ref name="IndianExpress newspaper"/> This was despite the fact that survivors of the Gulbarg massacre said that Jafri fired his gun only in self defence after the violent mob started attacking the complex.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-18031124 |title=Gujarat report says MP Ehsan Jafri 'provoked murderers' |work= BBC News|access-date=24 August 2017}}</ref>

Dismissing the allegations of a "larger conspiracy" behind the post-Godhra riots, including the Gulberg Society massacre, involving politicians and government machinery, special designated judge P B Desai said in his judgment that "the controversy, in my opinion, has been laid to rest and is required to be given its due burial". Judgement further stated that "…much attempts have been made to rake up this issue time and again, applications were tendered in the course of the present proceedings and independent proceedings have been initiated to seek reliefs under Section 319 of CrPC to arraign as co-accused senior police officers and other government officials, and such proceedings have been found to be without merit by all courts at all levels, including the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.......no material has been considered even prima facie worthwhile to arraign such senior police officers and government officials and politicians in power as accused in a number of proceedings, including the present proceedings, and in my opinion, therefore, it would be unsafe and improper to even have a further discussion on this aspect.".<ref name="DNA newspaper"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/no-larger-conspiracy-behind-2002-godhra-riots-court-2859809//|title=No larger conspiracy behind 2002 Godhra riots: SIT court|work=IndianExpress (newspaper)}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
[[Rahul Dholakia]] directed, ''[[Parzania]]'' (2005), starring [[Naseeruddin Shah]] and [[Sarika]] as the [[Parsi]] couple, Rupa and Dara Mody of the Gulbarg Society, whose 10-year-old son Azhar Mody went missing after a mob attack.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/6-yrs-after-Guj-massacre-a-heartbreaking-story-of-mother-son/340325/|title=6 yrs after Guj massacre, a heartbreaking story of mother & son|work=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/28/stories/2007012803480200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209072558/http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/28/stories/2007012803480200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 February 2007|title=Cinema at its very best...|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Subsequently, at the 2006 [[National Film Awards]] the film won two awards, the [[National Film Award for Best Actress]] for Sarika, as well as award for [[National Film Award for Best Direction]]. The film was not released in [[Gujarat]], as the cinema owners refused to screen it fearing backlash.<ref name="release_1">{{cite news|title=Flicker of hope for Parzania in Gujarat|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-01-28/ahmedabad/27876901_1_multiplex-owners-association-ashok-purohit-wide-angle-multiplex|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022074427/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-01-28/ahmedabad/27876901_1_multiplex-owners-association-ashok-purohit-wide-angle-multiplex|url-status=dead|work=[[The Times of India]]|archive-date=22 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="release_2">{{cite news|title=Parzania director's offer to Gujarat exhibitors|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/03/stories/2007020317621100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206013741/http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/03/stories/2007020317621100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 February 2007|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref name="release_3">{{cite news|title=Gujarat will see Parzania if Bajrangi says OK!|last=Sharma|first=Radha|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-02-03/ahmedabad/27878679_1_special-screening-babu-bajrangi-cinema-halls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022074433/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-02-03/ahmedabad/27878679_1_special-screening-babu-bajrangi-cinema-halls|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=ny>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/20/movies/20parz.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/S/Sengupta,%20Somini In India, Showing Sectarian Pain to Eyes That Are Closed] [[The New York Times]], 20 February 2007.</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Genocide}}
* [[List of massacres in India]]
* [[Naroda Patiya massacre]]
* [[Violence against Muslims in India]]

== References ==

=== Citations ===
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{Cite book|last=Shelton|first=Dinah |title=Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity (Volume 2)|year=2005|publisher=Macmillan Reference|isbn=0-02-865849-3|ref=Sh}}
* {{Cite book|last=des droits de l'homme |first=Fédération internationale (FIDH)|author-link=International Federation of Human Rights|title=Human Rights Watch |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VhAJMGtFIgMC&q=gulbarg+society+massacre&pg=PA20|publisher=Pub. [[Human Rights Watch]]|chapter=Gulbarg Society case|ref=Hu}}

== External links ==
* {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090714023356/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1910/19100040.htm A relentless hate campaign]}} [[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]], May 2002
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110811064648/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-16/india/28007583_1_statements-report-witnesses Report based on SIT findings'] at The Times of India, April 2009
* [https://archive.today/20130104215430/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main35.asp?filename=Ne031107safehouseofhorrors.asp Safehouse Of Horrors] Tehelka 3 Nov 2007
* {{cite news |title=Timeline of Gulberg Society massacre case|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Gujarat/Timeline-of-Gulberg-Society-massacre-case/Article1-744672.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124061010/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Gujarat/Timeline-of-Gulberg-Society-massacre-case/Article1-744672.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 November 2011 |work=Hindustan Times}}

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{{2002 Gujarat riots}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gulbarg Society Massacre}}
[[Category:2002 in India]]
[[Category:Massacres in 2002]]
[[Category:Attacks in India in 2002]]
[[Category:Massacres in India]]
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Arson in India]]
[[Category:2002 riots]]
[[Category:2002 Gujarat riots]]
[[Category:Persecution by Hindus]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in India]]
[[Category:Anti-Muslim violence in India]]
[[Category:February 2002 events in India]]
[[Category:2002 murders in India]]
[[Category:February 2002 events]]
[[Category:Massacres of Muslims]]

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