The Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday held two Indian Mujahideen operatives, Akbar Ismail Chowdhari and Aneeq Shafiq Shayeed, the main accused in the 2007-twin bomb blasts case in the city, guilty of the charges. The charges against two other accused were dismissed for lack of proper evidence.
The II Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, incharge of the NIA Special Court, pronounced the verdict in the 11-year old case that has claimed 44 innocent lives and injuries to another 68 persons. The trial and verdict was delivered in the special court, for which a separate place allocated in the Cherlapally Central Jail, where the accused persons were lodged.
The Judge however posted the case for Monday September 10 for pronouncing the quantum of punishment to the two who were found guilty of the charges.
While five accused persons were arrested, three others including the masterminds of the blast — Riyaz Bhaktal and Iqbal Bhaktal, both brother — are still absconding. The two accused found guilty, Akbar Ismail Chowdhari is named as the A1 in the Chargesheet, while Aneeq Safiq Sayeed was made A2.
It might be recalled here that on the late evening of August 25, 2007, in a sinister terrorist plot master-mined the IM operatives bombs exploded in the Gokul Chat Bhandar in the crowded Koti area and Lumbini Park situated on the Secretariat-Necklace Road that sent shockwaves not only in the city but in the entire country. (NSS)
