Hyderabad twin bomb blasts: Court awards death penalty to 2, sentences 1

The Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday awarded death sentence to three convicted in the Hyderabad twin blasts case while sentenced the third convict to life imprisonment, reports ANI. The court awarded Aneeq Sayeed and Ismail Chaudhary with the death penalty and  Tariq Anjum was awarded life imprisonment.

Announcing the verdict based on the evidence provided by the investigative team, the court found Tariq Anjum — an alleged operative of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), guilty for providing shelter to the other accused. Also, the court announced the verdict of other two convicts  — Aneeq Sayeed and Ismail Chaudhary — involved in planting the bombs at the sites.

Though the court acquitted Farooq Sharfuddin and Sadiq Ahmed Sheikh, as the evidence could not be established, fate of the fifth accused will be decided next week.

In the previous hearing, the judgement was to take place on August 27, but was delayed to September 4 due to Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge T Srinivas Rao’s decision. Among the arrested people produced before the court through video conferencing from Cherlapalli Central Prison on August 27 include — Mohammed Akbar Ismail Chowdhari, Aneeq Shafique Sayeed, Farooq Sharfuddin Tarkash, Mohammed Sadiq Israr Ahmed Shaik and Tarik Anjum.

Arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad in October 2008, the accused — allegedly associated with the Indian Mujahideen — were charged under section 302 (murder) and other relevant provisions of the IPC and sections of Explosive Substances Act in the twin blasts.

According to the prosecution, presenting the case on behalf of the government, stated that Riyaz Bhatkal planted the bomb at Gokul Chat, Aneeq Shafique Sayeed allegedly planted the bomb at Lumbini Park and Ismail Chowdhari planted the unexploded bomb at Dilsukhnagar. As per to Telangana Police’s Counter Intelligence (CI) wing some of the accused are still absconding.

ALSO READ: Hyderabad twin bomb blasts: NIA court convicts 2 accused, acquits 2