38 sentenced to death in Ahmedabad serial blast case

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New Delhi

In recent updates, the special court designated for the speedy trial of the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case sentenced 38 of the 49 convicts to death under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.

The 11 others were sentenced to life in jail till death. While pronouncing the judgement, Special Judge AR Patel awarded a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to those who had died in the blasts. He also awarded a compensation of Rs 50,000 for victims with serious injury and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injury.

One accused, Usman Agarbattiwala, the only one convicted under the Arms Act and among those sentenced to death, has been additionally awarded one year of imprisonment for conviction under the Arms Act. Sentences awarded to each of the 49 convicts under each section of the IPC, UAPA, Explosive Substances Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, will run concurrently.

Additionally, the court has imposed a fine of Rs 2.85 lakh each on 48 convicts. Agarbattiwala, with his additional sentence under Arms Act, has been imposed with a Rs 2.88 lakh-fine. On February 8, the Special Judge had declared 49 of the total 78 accused as guilty under various offences of the Indian Penal Code, including for murder, sedition and waging war against the state, as well as under offences of the UAPA, Explosive Substances Act.

Earlier, the judge had concluded a hearing on the aspect of quantum of punishment with the defence presenting arguments on mitigating circumstances, seeking minimum punishment, and the prosecution arguing on the aggravating circumstances to make a case for maximum punishment, that is death sentence. As many as 22 bombs went off in Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008, at various spots, including the state government-run civil hospital, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-run LG Hospital, on buses, parked bicycles, in cars and other places, killing 56 persons and leaving around 200 injured. Of the 24 bombs, one each at Kalol and Naroda, did not go off.

In emails that were sent to some media houses, the Indian Mujahideen (IM), an organisation that had not been heard of until then, claimed responsibility for the attacks. Of the total 78 accused on trial, one accused — Ayaz Saiyed — who turned approver in the case, had allegedly planted bombs in bicycles and AMTS bus in Naroda area of Ahmedabad city with the bus blowing up near Sarkhej.

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