‘Disappointed’ riot victims look to move SC

AHMEDABAD Victims of the communal massacre in Ahmedabad’s Naroda Patiya in 2002 said on Friday they will appeal against the acquittal of former state minister Maya Kodnani of charges that she incited the rioters, calling the Gujarat high court’s decision “disappointing”.

Kodnani, 63, was given the benefit of the doubt by the high court that said the testimonies of witnesses were inconsistent.

“This is a dark day. I had seen with my own eyes what happened there. If after saying all this (in the court) the court acquits those who were involved in killing the members of my family, then what kind of justice is this?” PTI quoted Shakeela Ansari as saying. Ansari saw eight members of her family murdered by the rioters.

“I had seen Maya Kodnani at a distance of 25-30 metres. I am disappointed by the verdict. Mayaben had come not once but twice to the area on the day of the incident. How can the court deny what we had seen from our own eyes?” said another victim, Salim Sheikh.

He and Ansari deposed during the trial, according to PTI.

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