Mumbai, Jan 21: A special court in Mumbai today awarded life imprisonment to 11 persons, who were convicted in connection with the 2002 Bilkis Bano gang-rape case related to the post-Godhra communal violence.

The court sentenced Somabhai Gori, a police official, to three years of rigorous imprisonment (RI). Gori was found guilty for shielding the offenders.

On Friday, the court had convicted the 12 accused, while acquitting seven others.

While Godhra riots were going on in March 2002 following the Sabarmati Express-train carnage, the then six-month pregnant Bilkis Bano was gang-raped and beaten up in Randhikpur town, 250 km from Ahmedabad.

In the gory incident, as many as 17 members of her family were attacked, in which eight were killed and six went missing.

The trial began in January 2005.

After the Gujarat Government had closed her case and granted bail to all the accused, Bilkis had moved the Supreme Court which transferred the case to the special Mumbai court on April 6, 2004. (ANI)