Court acquits all 70 accused

A local court in Gujarat's Banaskantha district on Friday acquitted all the 70 accused in the 2002 post-Godhra riots that took place in Seshan Nava village for lack of evidence.

A total of 14 Muslims were killed in the riots that broke out on March 2, 2002 and two persons from the Hindu community were killed in police firing.

Addition Sessions Judge VK Pujara acquitted the accused on the ground that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence on record to prove their involvement as part of the mob participating in killings

Eight of the accused persons died during the course of the trial.

According to prosecution's case, an armed mob of around 5,000 people laid siege to the village on March 2 in the aftermath of the Sabarmati Express train burning. They killed 14 persons of the Baloch Muslim community, including children.