New Delhi - A minister in India's western Gujarat state who is accused of involvement in 2002 sectarian riots surrendered to the police and resigned from her post on Friday.

Maya Kodnani is accused of leading rioting mobs in the Naroda Patiya area of Gujarat's principle city Ahmedabad where 106 people were killed during the violence in 2002.

More than 1000 people, largely Muslims, were killed in statewide riots sparked by the burning of Hindu pilgrims on a train on February 27, 2002.

India's apex Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) had named Kodnani, Gujarat's women and child development minister, as one of those who encouraged rioters to attack Muslims in Naroda Patiya

Kodnani, who denies the charge, surrendered to the police on Friday after the Gujarat high court rejected her anticipatory bail plea.

The high court, while rejecting Kodnani's plea said her role in leading mobs during 2002 sectarian violence was "nothing less than organized crime." The court said, "Religious fanatics don't belong to any religion and they are no better than terrorists."

Gujarat's Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party government said it respected the court's judgment but the ruling did not pronounce Kodnani guilty.

"No one can be pronounced guilty till the last word has been spoken," IANS news agency quoted a spokesperson for the government as saying. (dpa)