PM Modi on The Sabarmati Report : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised the recently released film 'The Sabarmati Report' and lauded it for bringing out the truth about the 2002 Sabarmati Express tragedy in Godhra. The film, released on November 15, is inspired by a tragic chapter in history when a coach of the Sabarmati Express was set on fire near Godhra in Gujarat.

Directed by Dheeraj Sarna and produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures, along with Amul V Mohan and Anshul Mohan, 'The Sabarmati Report' is based on the real-life events of the burning of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra.

PM Modi shared a tweet and wrote, "Well said. It's good that this truth is coming out, and that too in a way that the common people can see. A fake narrative can only last for a limited time. Eventually, the facts will always come out!" His support has drawn a lot of attention to the film.

Godhra train burning incident

The Godhra train burning incident took place on February 27, 2002, when the Sabarmati Express was attacked near the Godhra station in Gujarat. The train, connecting Muzaffarpur in Bihar to Ahmedabad in Gujarat, was carrying pilgrims returning from Ayodhya.

Hundreds of kar sevaks (religious volunteers) were on board the Sabarmati Express, returning to Gujarat after attending the Purnahuti Yagna organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Ayodhya. The incident was linked to the Ram Mandir movement, which had earlier seen the controversial demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. On February 25, 2002, around 1,700 passengers, including pilgrims and kar sevaks, boarded the train in Ahmedabad. The journey proceeded without incident until it reached Godhra station on the morning of February 27.

59 passengers including women and children died

A coach, S-6, was set on fire, resulting in the death of 59 passengers, including women and children. The incident triggered widespread communal riots across Gujarat, causing extensive loss of life and property. According to police reports, a mob of about 2,000 people attacked the train, pelted stones at the coaches, and set four coaches on fire. The fire killed 59 people, including 27 women and 10 children, while 48 others were injured. 11 persons were sentenced to death, and 20 were given life imprisonment.

All the 31 convicted persons are now serving life imprisonment

However, in October 2023, the Gujarat High Court modified the sentences, commuting the death penalty to life imprisonment, while upholding the life imprisonment of the remaining convicts. The court also upheld the acquittals. As a result, all 31 convicted persons in the case are now serving life sentences.