Three Awarded Death Penalty, One Lifer in Lajpat Nagar Blast Case
In the 1996 Lajpat Nagar blast, three out of six convicted members of militant outfit Jammu Kashmir Islamic Front (JKIF) have been sentenced to death by a Delhi court, said media reports.
“Three convicts (Mohd Naushad, Mohd Ali Bhatt and Mirza Nissar Hussain) are being awarded the death penalty, which is subject to confirmation from the High Court,” District and Sessions Judge SP Gargh was quoted as saying.
Announcing the verdict, the court observed that the complicity of the three convicts in the grave offence warranted imposition of the extreme penalty, reports said.
Another convict Javed Ahmed Khan who was found guilty of serious offences of murder, conspiracy and attempt to murder under the IPC was awarded rigorous life imprisonment, said reports.
However, remaining two convicts Farooq Ahmed Khan and Farida Dar, who were held guilty under milder penal provisions, were allowed to walk free as the court said that the imprisonment served during the trial was their punishment, reports said.
On April 8, court had convicted six out of 10 accused in the case, snubbing the police for ‘highly defective’ investigation and callous attitude.
As many as 13 people were killed in Lajpat Nagar blast in 1996.
(Based on internet reports)
