Sixteen people were Friday sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delhi court for the murder of eight persons during communal riots which at Idgah Park near Sadar Bazar area in November 1990.

The Fast Track Court of Additional Sessions Judge N P Kaushik late last month had convicted the 16 after finding them guilty of offences under sections 302 (Murder) read with 147 (Punishment for rioting), and 149 (Unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. Besides, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 each on the convicted persons.

Eighteen persons were charge-sheeted in the case. One person was declared a proclaimed offender and another died during the trial.

Members of the Muslim and Hindu community had clashed after some members of the rally had made an inflammatory speech. The rally on November 14, 1990 had started from Sisganj Gurudwara in Chandni Chowk to Idgah Park near Sadar Bazar. The violence had resulted in the death five Muslims and three Hindus.