Victims urge Gujarat HC for stay on Gulberg trial

The victims of Gulberg society massacre, on Wednesday, approached Gujarat high court seeking a stay on the ongoing trial in the case until the Supreme Court-appointed SIT places its report before the special court.

Rupa Mody, whose minor son Dara was killed in the massacre, has moved the plea in the HC on behalf of the victims. The special court had rejected the plea a month back.

They contended that the trial should not go on as the SIT has to place its report on the role of state ministers, bureaucrats and police officers with regards to the government's failure to control rioters during the massacre that killed over 70 people. The plea further states that the court should halt the proceedings as they can seek further probe after going through the report.

"Justice JC Upadhyay heard the arguments tendered by the lawyer of Mody and posted further hearing for argument on behalf of the SIT," said JM Panchal, counsel for SIT.

The Supreme Court had directed the SIT to place its report over a complaint by Zakia Jafri, whose husband and former Congress MP, Ahsan Jafri, was killed in the incident. Jakia had alleged in her complaint that the entire state machinery had failed to stop riots and they should be prosecuted according to their role and failure.