The Special Investigation Team Court today that was trying Ode massacre has announced quantum of punishment to the 23 persons who were found guilty of the offence. While 18 persons were awarded lifers and Rs. 5,800 fine each for being guilty of murdering 23 Muslims in Ode town of Gujarat in 2002 when communal clashes broke out.  The remaining five accused were awarded seven years of rigorous imprisonment with Rs. 3800 fine in connection with attempt to murder case.  Notable, all 23 convicts share rioting, criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly and destruction of evidence charges.

According to the sources, the convicts remained silent in the court when the judge was pronouncing quantum of punishment.  The court premises was later echoed with raising slogans by the relatives of convicts. The special security soon plunged into the action to disperse the crowd.  The defence lawyers, Ashwin Dagad and C K Patel were okay with the statement. They, however, said that they would be appeal to the higher court.  Meanwhile, one of the girls out there told the media that he father was mentally unstable and was falsely implicated in the case.  It may be noted that the Supreme Court directed SIT to probe Ode massacre. (Phani)