Death sentences of convicts in 2013 Gandhi Maidan blasts commuted
The Patna High Court, on Wednesday, commuted the sentences of four convicts previously condemned to death for their involvement in the 2013 serial blasts case. The court's decision, delivered by Justice Ashutosh Kumar, commuted these sentences to life imprisonment. The bombings occurred at Gandhi Maidan in Patna during an election rally addressed by then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. This ruling revises the earlier judgment passed by the Special NIA Court.
Defense lawyer confirms High Court's decision
"In the Gandhi Maidan bomb blast case, the Patna High Court revised the verdict originally given by the Special NIA Court," Defense attorney Imran Ghani said. "Of the six appeals filed, two were regarding life sentences and four were about capital punishment. The appeals of those awarded life sentences were dismissed, but capital punishment of the four convicts was commuted to 30 years of life imprisonment," he added.
Details of the 2013 Patna serial blasts unveiled
The serial blasts on October 27, 2013, targeted both Gandhi Maidan and the Patna railway station, leading to six fatalities and over 80 injuries. Initially investigated by the Patna Police, the case was later transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The NIA identified 10 individuals involved in this act of terror, nine of whom were found guilty.
Convicted individuals identified as members of terrorist groups
The convicted individuals are believed to be members of the Indian Mujahideen and the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Currently, these convicts are serving their sentences in Patna's Beur jail. The nine accused were identified as Imtiaz Ansari, Haider Ali, Nawaj Ansari, Muzmullah, Umer Siddiqi, Azher Kuresi, Ahmad Hussain, Feroz Aslam and Iftikhar Alam. Another individual named Faqeuddin was acquitted by the NIA due to insufficient evidence.
