Indian court convicts 31 in train burning

An Indian court Tuesday convicted 31 people of setting a train carrying Hindu pilgrims on fire in the western state of Gujarat in 2002, a barbaric act that sparked some of the country's worst religious riots since independence.

The train was carrying devotees returning from the site of a mosque in northern India that was demolished by Hindu mobs in 1992. The special court in Gujarat ruled that the accused had conspired to torch it, killing 59 people, prosecutor J.M. Panchal said.

More than 2,500 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in subsequent riots.

The court's decision appears to validate the calls for justice of the opposition Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has argued the train was deliberately set on fire to provoke the riots. The BJP currently rules Gujarat state.

The verdict comes as the BJP stepped up its campaign against the Congress-led government over corruption and high food prices, and has forced the government to accept a cross-party probe into a massive telecoms corruption case.

Many believe the riots played a part in the BJP's 2004 general election drubbing and tarnished its position in secular India.

The BJP, which denies any role in the riots, welcomed the verdict, saying it put to rest arguments the fire was accidental and was used as an excuse by Hindu hardliners for the riots. The court will sentence the guilty individuals Friday.

Reuters