India court absolves DPM in mosque razing, charges 7 leaders

By: Irfan Malik

NEW DELHI, India: An Indian court on Friday while clearing Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani over the 1992 razing of a mosque in Ayodhya, has charged seven other top Hindu nationalist leaders with the destruction of the 16th-century mosque.

The 1992 destruction of Babri mosque in the town of Ayodhya in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state triggered worst religious riots across the country, which claimed at least 2,000 lives mostly Muslims.

Those charged include Human Resources Minister Murli Manohar Joshi who had said he would resign if charges were filed against him. And soon after Joshi was charged, he sent resignation to the premier Atal Behari Vajpayee.

In his 130-page verdict, special judge V.K. Singh said he had “sufficient evidence” to frame charges of inciting a mob that ruined the mosque against the seven but absolved Advani because prosecutors could not provide proof of his direct involvement in the destruction.

END