Mumbai: A special court in Mumbai have found thirteen people gulity in the Bilkis Bano rape case while seven others have been acquitted. The quantum of sentence will be pronounced tomorrow.

The case dates back to March 3, 2002, during the Gujarat riots, when a pregnant Bilkis was allegedly gangraped, beaten up and left for dead. Around 17 members of her family were attacked. Eight were killed and six are still missing.

Earlier, her case was transferred out of Gujarat to Maharashtra in 2004 making it the second Gujarat riot case after Best Bakery to be tried in a special Mumbai court.

There were 20 accused in the case, including six policemen, who were charged with shielding the guilty. While five policemen were acquitted, one has been held guilty.

The cops were booked for allegedly entering into a criminal conspiracy, suppressing and destroying evidence, and falsifying records.

Special Judge UD Salvi pronounced the verdict, convicting the 13 under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder) and 376 (rape).

Source : Agencies