38 sentenced to death in 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, 11 others sent to life in prison

Mangalore Today News Network

Ahmedabad, Feb 18, 2022: Thirty-eight people were sentenced to die by a special court in Gujarat that convicted them in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case. Eleven other convicts were sent to life in prison. The July 26, 2008, Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts killed 56 people and left over 200 injured. Last week, a special court in Gujarat convicted 49 people and acquitted 28 others in connection with the blasts.

All the accused appeared virtually in court today while the sentences were pronounced. The death sentences will need to be confirmed by the Gujarat High Court.

The accused were convicted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, UAPA, Explosive Substances Act and Damage to Public Property Act. One accused was also convicted under the Arms Act.

They were convicted under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 121 (a) (conspiracy to wage war or attempt to wage war against the nation) and 124 (a) (sedition) among others of the IPC, and 16(1)(a)(b) of the UAPA related to punishment for a terrorist act.

The court had concluded a trial against 77 accused in September last year. Of the 78 accused put on trial, one had turned an approver.

The police had claimed that people associated with the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM), a faction of radicals of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), were involved in the blasts.

It was alleged that the IM terrorists had planned these blasts to avenge the 2002 post-Godhra riots.Days after the serial blasts in Ahmedabad, the police had recovered bombs from different parts of Surat, following which 20 FIRs were registered in Ahmedabad and 15 in Surat. The trial was conducted after the court merged all 35 FIRs.

 

Courtesy:India Today