Pronouncing the quantum of punishment, two men convicted in 2007 Hyderabad twin blasts case to be sentenced today
Hyderabad, September 10: The terrific twin blast that rocked Hyderabad eleven years ago, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court finally announced its verdict convicting two and now it will pronounce the quantum of punishment for the two Indian Mujahideen operatives convicted in the 2007 Hyderabad blasts case.
Two powerful explosions had ripped through a popular eatery and an open-air theatre in Hyderabad on August 25, 2007, killing 44 people and wounding 68. On September 4, Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge (in-charge) T Srinivas Rao pronounced Aneeq Shafique Sayeed and Mohammed Akbar Ismail Chowdhari guilty in the 11-year-old case but acquitted Farooq Sharfuddin Tarkash and Mohammed Sadiq Israr Ahmed Shaik for want of enough evidence.
The quantum of punishment, as also the judgment on the fifth accused Tarik Anjum, accused of protecting the perpetrators in New Delhi and other places will be pronounced on Monday by the special court set up on the premises of Cherlapalli Central Prison, where they are currently lodged.
The agency had filed four charge sheets against the five accused and also named two other absconding accused, Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal. Those arrested Mohammed Akbar Ismail Chowdhari, Aneeq Shafique Sayeed, Farooq Sharfuddin Tarkash, Mohammed Sadiq Israr Ahmed Shaik and Tarik Anjum were produced before the court on August 27 through video conferencing from Cherlapalli Central Prison, where they are currently lodged.
The accused were charged under section 302 (murder) and other relevant provisions of the IPC and sections of Explosive Substances Act in connection with the twin blasts on August 25, 2007, and also with regard to the recovery of an unexploded bomb found under a foot overbridge at Dilsuknagar area here.
According to the prosecution, Aneeq Shafique Sayeed allegedly planted the bomb at Lumbini Park while Riyaz Bhatkal planted the bomb at Gokul Chat while the unexploded bomb was planted by Ismail Chowdhari.