Hyderabad: The Special Court of National Investigation Agency today convicted and sentenced Aniq Sharif and Akbar Ismail, accused in city twin blasts case to be hanged to death. Third accused Tariq Anjum, who provided shelter to Aniq and Akbar was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The NIA Special Court today pronounced its verdict on Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park bomb blasts case. The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each accused. It may be mentioned here that the NIA Special Court, which was set up in Charlapally Central Jail here, delivered verdict on September 4 holding the three accused guilty. It said while Aniq Sharif Sayyad kept the bomb at Lumbini Park Laser show, Mohammed Akbar Ismail placed a bomb under Dilsukhnagar Foot Over Bridge. The Court also acquitted other two accused Farooq Sharfuddin Tarkus and Mohammed Sadiq Israr Ahmed Shaiq on benefit of doubt.
The Court conducted trial this morning and examined the accused, who pleaded not guilty alleging that the police framed false cases against them. But the prosecution brought home the guilt of the accused with irrefutable evidence. The case in the sensational twin blast incidents in which 44 innocent persons died, went on for the last 11 years
The Second Metropolitan Sessions Court held Tariq Anjum, an alleged operative of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), guilty for providing shelter to the other accused. The court convicted them on September 4. While 32 people were killed at Gokul Chat, a popular eatery, 10 others lost their lives at Lumbini Park, near State Secretariat, in near simultaneous blasts around 7.45 p.m. on August 25, 2007. More than 50 were injured in the blasts.
The accused were arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad in October 2008. Three other accused, including IM chief Riyaz Bhatkal and his brother Iqbal Bhatkal still remain at large. (NSS)