German Bakery is back in business, Baig held guilty

New Delhi, April 15: Two months after German Bakery reopened for business, thirty-year-old Himayat Baig, an Indian Mujahideen operative, has been found guilty for his role in the attack on the bakery in Koregaon Park of Pune. The German Bakery re-opened for business in February this year.

The chargesheet is against seven but only one was convicted today while other are absconding with one though in custody has not been arrested in this case.

Himayat Baig has been found guilty for his role in the terror attack. The blast of Feb 13, 2010, at German Bakery, frequented by foreign tourists, left 17 dead and 64 injured. Among the dead were five foreign nationals.

It was the first major terror strike after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008.

Pune Sessions Court Special Judge M P Dhote delivered the verdict today.

The Maharashtra ATS had filed a chargesheet in December 2010 and named five others as wanted accused. They include the alleged co-founders of Indian Mujahideen, the Bhatkal brothers - Yasin, Riyaz and Iqbal.

Another accused, Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, is facing trial for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case. Jundal, however, has not been shown arrested in this case, while all others are absconding.

Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley, in his testimony before a US court in the trial of his accomplice Tahawwur Rana, had admitted that he had done a survey of the area and taken photographs of the popular hang-out in Pune.

A total of 103 witnesses were examined as Baig was charged under various sections of the IPC, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Explosive Substances Act.

While the prosecution had claimed that the conspiracy was planned in Colombo in 2008, Baig had denied allegations of knowing the other accused. He had claimed that he was in Aurangabad on the day of the blast.

The prosecution has said in court that the blast was planned at a meeting in Colombo in 2008, where Baig was trained to make a bomb. He assembled the bomb at his cyber cafe in Udgir.

The German Bakery is a landmark in Koregaon Park, and a popular hang-out for youths and foreign nationals because of its variety in breads.

Snehal Kharose, owner of the eatery, has added an additional floor but the spot where the blast took place has been kept vacant. No tables or service will be allowed in that area.

The bakery is known for pastries, especially the Danish pastries, chocolate cake, avocado roll, cheese sandwich, omelettes, pizzas and the masala chai.

The owners have been able to retain only three of the original staff members. The blast has made them erect 18 CCTV cameras. The 24-hour recording cameras also have night vision feature.

OneIndia News