Rafiq Hussain The Accused of Godhra Train Incident, Sentences to Life Imprisonment

Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, who was absconding for 19 years and made an arrest last year on February 14 has now been convicted by the Godhra Sessions Office under the charges of, conspiracy to murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on Saturday.

He was accused of the Godhra train on fire, on February 27, 2002. RC Kodekar, Special Public Prosecutor informs the verdict to the media on Saturday.

According to officials, Bhatuk fled to Delhi immediately after his name cropped up during the investigation. He was facing murder and rioting charges among others.

Following this, in February 2011 the trial court convicted 31 people and acquitted 63 others, claiming that the incident was a planned conspiracy by the SIT court, and sentenced them to life imprisonment. And the state government ordered to pay the compensation of 10 lakh to the families of 59 victims.

It has been said that the train burning incident of February 27, 2002, triggered the worst communal riots in the history of Gujarat, in which over 1,000 people, mostly belonging to the minority community, were killed.