Ganbdhinagar : A Special Court on Friday sentenced 38 to death and 11 to whole life terms in connection with 2008 serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad that killed 56 persons and left over 200 injured.
The gruesome terror played out on 26 July 2008, when bombs went off at 20 locations across Ahmedabad in a span of 70 minutes.
The blasts came with a chilling taunt to the state authorities prior to the explosions. “There will be multiple blasts in the State. Stop them if you can,” read the 6 page email sent to various media outlets by the the Indian Mujaideen – a faction of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India(SIMI)
The arguments on quantum sentencing for all 49 accused concluded on 14 February. In its verdict, the court acquitted 28 accused for lack of sufficient evidence.
Those convicted are charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities Act, Explosive Substances Act and Damage to Property Act. Sections include 302(murder), 307(attempt to murder), 121(a)(conspiracy to wage war or attempt to wage war against the nation) and 124(a)(sedition), and section 16(1)(a)(b) of the UAPA pertaining to terrorist acts.
The police claim the serial blasts was in revenge of post-Godhra riots of 2002.
