All 4 convicted get death penalty in 2008 Jaipur blasts
A Jaipur court on Friday awarded death sentence to all the four convicted in the 2008 Jaipur bomb blasts case. The four were convicted by the court on Wednesday for their involvement in a series of blasts that rocked Jaipur on May 13, 2008, leaving nearly 70 people dead and 185 others injured. One other accused was acquitted. Here are more details.
One accused was acquitted on Wednesday
The four accused sentenced are: Mohammad Saif alias Carryon (32), Mohammad Sarwar Azmi alias Rajhans Yadav (34), Saifur alias Saif-ur-Rehman Ansari (32), and Mohammad Salman (26). On Wednesday, the four—residents of Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh—were convicted of murder, criminal conspiracy, among other sections of the Indian Penal Code; the Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act (UAPA), Explosives Act, and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Lawyer to challenge conviction in High Court
Representing the accused, Advocate Paker Farooq had said he would challenge the convictions in the Rajasthan High Court. Meanwhile, another accused, Shahbaaz Hussain, was acquitted by the Jaipur court on Wednesday due to lack of evidence. Hussain had been charged with sending an email claiming responsibility for the blast. However, no evidence could establish that he sent the email from a cybercafe in Sahibabad.
What happened during the 2008 Jaipur bomb blasts?
On May 13, 2008, series of nine bombs went off across Jaipur between 7:20-7:45 pm. The explosives reportedly included ammonium nitrate mixed with shrapnel and were tied to bicycles in popular tourist spots. 10 explosives were planted, out of which, nine went off near Hawa Mahal, Badi Chaupad, Hanuman Mandir, etc. Over 70 people were killed and around 185 were left injured.
How did the accused orchestrate the bomb blasts?
Mohammad Saif was involved in the Manak Chowk police station blast, Mohammad Sarwar Aazmi in the one at Chandpole Hanuman Temple, Mohammad Salman at Sanganeri Hanuman temple, while Saifur planted bombs at five places. As mentioned, Hussain was accused of sending an email, claiming responsibility.
IM claimed responsibility; 2 accused killed in Batla House encounter
The Indian Mujahideen (IM) had claimed responsibility for the attack. Eight FIRs were filed against 11 accused. Two of the accused, Mohammad Atin and Sajid Chhota, were killed in the September 2008 Batla House encounter. Atin is said to have been the mastermind. Three other accused are reportedly in Delhi's Tihar Jail. The Rajasthan ATS investigated the bombings and five accused were charge-sheeted.
