Gulf Times reports that a court in the Indian state of Gujarat yesterday convicted 23 people in connection with the Ode village massacre that took place in 2002 as part of broader Hindu-Muslim religious riots set off after a train carrying 60 Hindu pilgrims was set on fire by a mob. Another 23 defendants were acquitted for lack of evidence. As described by the Gulf Times, the massacre involved rioters in the small Gujarati village of Ode who bolted doors of a house where Muslim families had taken refuge and then set it on fire. Of the 23 who died, 18 were women. This is one of several cases that has been investigated by a special team appointed by the Supreme Court. (See prior related posting.)
UPDATE: AFP reported Thursday that 18 of the defendants (found guilty of murder and conspiracy) were given life sentences, while 5 others (convicted of attempted murder) were sentenced to 7 years in prison.
