The conviction of a former state minister for her involvement in a massacre that took place during Gujarat sectarian riots in 2002 has come as a big boost for the Muslim community, which has been fighting for justice for years, observers say.

“This verdict is surely a welcome shot in the arm for the survivors of the Gujarat carnage and for the many others who have been relentlessly campaigning for truth and justice,” said Father Cedric Prakash, who heads a human rights center in Ahmedabad, capital of the western Indian state.

Justice came yesterday when a special court convicted Maya Kodnani, a former minister from the ruling pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with 31 other people for their role in what has become known as the Naroda-Patiya massacre.

The event was one of many incidents during the 2002 sectarian violence, which claimed the lives of 790 Muslims.

Violence flared when a Muslim mob set a train carrying Hindu pilgrims on fire on February 27, 2002.

The next day, a Hindu mob went on the rampage in Naroda-Patiya in attacks on Muslims that resulted in the killing of 95 people.

Kodnani was arrested by a special investigation team when she was the state minister for women and child development in March 2009.

She was a legislator at the time of the massacre.

Sayed Ahmed, a journalist in Ahmedabad, said Muslims were rejoicing at the verdict.

“It is the first time a legislator has been arrested in a riot case,” he said, adding the verdict would act as a deterrent to others.

The community now feels that it can also expect and get further justice from the court, Ahmed said.

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