Six acquitted in 1992-93 riots case

The sessions court on Monday acquitted six people, including a woman, arrested for their alleged involvement in the 1992-93 riots for lack of evidence and prosecution’s failure to bring independent witnesses.

The sessions court on Monday acquitted six people, including a woman, arrested for their alleged involvement in the 1992-93 riots for lack of evidence and prosecution’s failure to bring independent witnesses.

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The Worli police arrested 21 people from a mob of more than 1,500 who were allegedly about to attack a local church, where some riot-affected people were put up.

The accused also allegedly burnt six taxis and 21 shops, police said.

They were booked for rioting, damaging public property and for being part of unlawful assembly.

Though the case was registered in 1993, the trial commenced in 2008 against Santosh Bhosle, Santosh Fernandez, Ganesh Bhise, Ramu Ramlu, Mohammed Hanif and a woman only identified as Kamble.

The other 15 remained untraceable.

“Many [of the accused] could not be traced because they had shifted,” said defence lawyer Sandeep Dere.

During the trial, the police produced six witnesses to prove their case. “All the witnesses were policemen who were present during the arrest. No independent witnesses were produced,” said Dere. He also pointed to the court that the six men were arrested from their Worli homes. Accepting Dere’s arguments, the court acquitted all six.