Members of Modi’s BJP acquitted over 1992 attack on Babri mosque in Ayodhya

The demolition of the 16th-century mosque sparked Hindu-Muslim violence that left about 2,000 people dead

Four senior leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party were accused of inciting followers ahead of the attack

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Hindu hardliner Sadhvi Ritambhara, one of accused in the 1992 attack and demolition of the 16th-century mosque. Photo: AP

Published: 3:58pm, 30 Sep 2020Updated: 9:23pm, 30 Sep 2020

An Indian court on Wednesday acquitted all 32 people who had been accused of crimes in a 1992 attack and demolition of a 16th-century mosque that sparked Hindu-Muslim violence leaving some 2,000 people dead.

Four senior leaders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had been among the defendants at the trial that languished in India’s sluggish legal system for almost 28 years. Seventeen of the 49 accused died of natural causes during the trial.

The four party leaders were accused of making inflammatory speeches that incited tens of thousands of their followers who had camped out in Ayodhya ahead of the attack on the mosque.

Last year, India’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of building of a Hindu temple on the disputed site. Hindus believe their god Ram was born there and claim Muslim Emperor Babur built a mosque on top of a temple at the site.

The Supreme Court also ruled the demolition of the Babri Masjid violated the law and ordered the trial in the mosque demolition case be held separately.

Judge Surendra Kumar Yadav ruled there was no criminal conspiracy to attack the mosque by hardline Hindu activists and no conclusive evidence to prove it, said lawyer Rishab Tripathi.

The New Delhi Television news channel cited the court order as saying the BJP leaders tried to stop activists who were trying to demolish the structure.