VADODARA: Rafik Bhatuk, a main defendant in Godhra 2002 Sabarmati Express massacre case, was sentenced to life in prison on Saturday. Bhatuk was shipped from Godhra in February 2021, almost 19 years after the incident.
Bhatuk is believed to be one of the main defendants in the massacre that took place on 27 February 2002. On that day, 59 Ramsevaks returned from Ayodhya was killed when the train’s S-6 coach caught fire after refueling. The carnage sparked community riots in the state.
The Special Court of HP Mehta trial in Godhra found Bhatuk guilty on Saturday. Special Prosecutor RC Kodekar says Bhatuk is sentenced to life in prison. He added that he is the 35th defendant in the case to be charged.
As many as 31 defendants were found guilty by the special court in March 2011. This was followed by the convictions of two defendants in 2018 and one in 2019.
Special Operations Group (SOG) of Panchmahal police and Godhra town police arrested Bhatuk from Signal Falia town in February last year. He used to sell fruit to make a living in town.
Bhatuk escaped from Godhra after being designated as a suspect in the case. On the run, he went to Delhi and other places. He used to be in Mohammadi Mohalla in Godhra when it happened, but switched to Signal Falia after that.
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