Hyderabad Twin Blasts 2007: NIA Court Convicts Two Accused Out Of Five, Quantum Of Punishment To Be Pronounced On Monday

New Delhi, September 4: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court today convicted two accused for the 2007 twin blasts in Hyderabad that claimed 42 lives. The court acquitted two other accused. The quantum of sentence for the convicted Indian Mujahideen operatives, Aneeq Shafique Sayeed and Mohammed Akbar Ismail, will be announced next Monday.

The court will also pronounce its judgment on fifth accused Tarik Anjum on the same day. Anjum was accused of providing shelter to the culprits. Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge T Srinivas Rao acquitted two others, Farooq Sharfuddin Tarkash and Mohammed Sadiq Israr Ahmed Shaik, in the case.

The two blasts had occurred at Gokul Chat eatery in Koti and the laser show auditorium at Lumbini Park around 7.45 pm on August 25, 2007. According to reports, 32 people were killed at Gokul Chat, while 10 lost their lives at Lumbini Park. More than 50 were also reported to be injured in the blasts. An unexploded bomb was also recovered in the Dilsukhnagar area that night.

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested the accused in 2008 in connection with the blasts. They were later taken into custody by the Gujarat Police. They were charged under section 302 (murder) and other relevant provisions of the IPC and sections of Explosive Substances Act.

The trial in the case started in October 2016 and was shifted to a court hall located on the premises of the Cherlapalli Central Prison in June this year. According to the prosecution, Aneeq Shafique Sayeed planted the bomb at Lumbini Park, and Bhatkal planted the bomb at Gokul Chat.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2018 02:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).