LUCKNOW, Oct 24: A court on Wednesday sentenced 15 people to life in prison for killing Muslims in riots that followed the demolition of Babri mosque by Hindu fanatics in northern India in 1992.

Another nine accused were acquitted, while one has already died.

“The judgement has come as a ray of hope and restored the faith of people, especially Muslims, in the judiciary,” senior high court lawyer Zafaryab Jilani said.

The accused were found guilty of burning to death nine people, including four members of a family, in the industrial town of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

About 2,000 people died in nationwide riots after the 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya was torn down on December 6, 1992.—AFP