http://www.rediff.com/news/ report/kin-of-naroda-patiya- victims-seek-exemplary- punishment/20120830.htm
August 30, 2012 00:48 IST
The families of the 2002 Naroda Patiya riots victims have
demanded exemplary punishment to the 32 people, including former Gujarat
Minister Maya Kodnani, convicted in the case by a special court on Wednesday.
The special court convicted 32
people, including Kodnani and Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, on charges of
murder and conspiracy. 97 people belonging to the minority community were
killed in the post-Godhra riots.
"All the convicts should be
given such a punishment that nobody in the future can even think of committing
such a crime," Shakeela, who lost most of her family members during the
communal violence in Naroda Patiya, said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by
Dildar Umraav Saiyed, who was also present during a press meet organised by
Citizens for Justice and Peace, a non-governmental organisation run by social
activist Teesta Setalvad, who actively helped the victims get justice.
"This is half-justice. Only
when the court awards strict punishment to them, we will get full
justice," Dildar said.
According to advocate Altaf Khan
Jidran, who was part of the team that provided legal assistance to the victims,
Dildar was among the 11 eye-witnesses, who had deposed fearlessly before the
court against Kodnani and Bajrangi.
Seventy-year-old Dhaniben Didawala,
whose only son Ramesh Keshavlal Didawala was among the 32 held guilty by the
court, was upset after the court pronouncement.
"I am a widow. My son had lost
his wife last year. He has two children. Now as he is convicted, how at this
old age, I would raise his two children?," she said with tears in her
PTI