Gujarat: A division bench of Gujarat High Court today recused itself from hearing appeals in Naroda Patiya massacre case. The bench was supposed to hear appeals of around 29 convicts including former state minister Mayaben Kodnani and former Vishav Hindu Parishad leader Babu Bajrangi, who have challenged their conviction by a special trial court.
As the case came up for hearing before the division bench, the judges ordered “not before me”, withdrawing themselves from hearing this the appeals.
Justice M R Shah and K S Jhaveri said that the accused tried to approach them.
According to Wikipedia [t]he Naroda Patiya massacre took place on 28 February 2002 at Naroda, in Ahmedabad, India, during the 2002 Gujarat massacre. 97 Muslims were killed by a mob of approximately 5,000 people, organized by the Bajrang Dal, a militant wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, and supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party which was in power in the Gujarat State Government. The massacre at Naroda occurred during the bandh (strike protest) called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad; a day after the Godhra train burning.