Judicial custody of Ayodhya attack accused extended by 14 days

Faizabad, Mar 9 (UNI) The court today extended the judicial custody of all the five accused in the July 5, 2005 Ayodhya fidayeen attack case by 14 days.

The quintet were produced before Faizabad District Judge R P Shukla from Naini Jail, Allahabad under tight security arrangements around 1100 hrs.

The accused would now be produced before the district court on March 25 next.

Since the counsel representing the terrorists was not present today, the court appointed 'Nyay Mitra' Nalini Kumar Singh for the purpose.

Following the attack on the Ram Janmabhoomi, the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) had lodged a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 147, 148, 307, 302, 353, 153, 153 A, 295, 120 B and 4.

Shakil and Nasim Ahmad were arrested on July 27, while Asif Iqbal and Mohd Aziz were arrested on July 14 in the valley by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The four were accused of providing SIM card and sophisticated weapons to the five terrorists, who stormed the high security Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya on July 5. The fidayeen were, however, liquidated by security persoonel deployed at the site.

The fifth accused, Dr Irban, a Unani medical practitioner, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police on July 22 in Saharanpur district.

UNI XC/VS VD RN1658