Friday, Apr 26, 2024 | Last Update : 09:44 AM IST
Convicts of Bodh Gaya blast sentenced for life
Over 90 prosecution witnesses had appeared before the court for cross-examination during trial.
Patna: The special NIA court on Friday sentenced all five Indian Mujahidin terrorists convicted in the Bodh Gaya bomb blast case to life imprisonment.
The NIA Judge Manoj Kumar Sinha also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 each on all convicts. According to lawyers, “the convicts were sentenced under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act.
The Buddhist town in Bihar had witnessed the serial blast on the morning of July 7, 2013, in which several monks who had gathered for their special prayer were badly injured.
“The court didn’t pronounce death penalty to the convicted terrorists because no one died in the serial blast. They were granted life imprisonment because the court felt that the intention of terrorists was to cause heavy casualties”. Public prosecutor Lalan Kumar Sinha told reporters.
Over 90 prosecution witnesses had appeared before the court for cross-examination during trial.
The first charge sheet in the case was filed against seven people on May 29, 2014. However, proceedings against six persons were initiated as the seventh accused Tariq Ansari had died in the bomb blast at Patna Railway Station ahead of BJP’s rally on October 27, 2013.
The investigation report states that the mastermind Haider Ali along with other conspirators Imtiyaz Ali, Omar Siddiqui, Mujibullah and Azaharuddin Quraishi had planned the attack to avenge the alleged atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
Preliminary investigation reports also suggest that all the accused belonged to the Ranchi module of the IM and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
The NIA during their initial probe had also recovered some explosives and document from a Ranchi based lodge which helped in the cracking the case. Another accused Taufeeq Ahmed who was declared a minor during the trial was sentenced to three years last year and was sent to juvenile home.
All five Bodh Gaya blast convicts are facing trial in the Patna blast case which had occurred during the BJP rally which was also attended by the then Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
