Ahmedabad: A court today (May 4, 2004) awarded life imprisonment to three persons found guilty of murdering a police constable on duty in the sensitive Gomtipur area of the city during post-Godhra communal riots in 2002.

Sessions judge Sonia Gokani sentenced Mohd Shahnawaz Mohd Husssain Sheikh, Mohd Hussain Mohd Idrisi and Alamgir Rafiq Ahmed Sidddique to life imprisonment, who had hacked to death a police constable Amar Sureshrao Patil on April 21, 2002.

Gokani also fined the three accused Rs 40,000 each and announced that of the Rs 1,20,000 thus collected, Rs 85,000 would be given to the deceased's family.

There were over 40 accused in the case but remaining were acquitted for the want of evidence.

A mob had intercepted Patil while he was passing by on his motorcycle near Dhobini chali in Gomtipur. He was dragged into a lane where the mob hacked him to death using swords and other sharp-edged weapons.

Police had arrested 13 persons on the spot and Sheikh was caught with sword in his hand, Idrisi with big knife while Siddique was leading the mob.