Thirty one people were today convicted and 63 others, including the main accused Maulvi Umarji, were acquitted by a special court here in the 2002 Godhra train burning incident that left 59 people dead and triggered violence in Gujarat that had claimed the lives of over 1200 people, mainly Muslims.

The sentencing would be pronounced on February 25 after arguments on the quantum of punishment by the Special Court that accepted the theory of conspiracy behind the burning of the coach of Sabarmati Express carrying kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya.

The court acquitted prime accused Maulana Umarji while other prominent accused Haji Billa and Rajjak Kurkur were convicted.

“The Special Court judge, Mr P.R. Patel, has convicted 31 accused while acquitting 63 others,” the Public Prosecutor, Mr J.M. Panchal, said after the verdict inside the Sabarmati jail.

“On February 25, there will be a hearing on the point of sentence, and after that quantum of punishment will be pronounced,” Mr Panchal said.

“The conspiracy theory has been accepted by the court,” he said.

Scientific evidence, statement of witnesses, circumstantial and documentary evidence placed on record formed the basis of the judgment.

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