HC awards terrorist death sentence

New Delhi, August 4 (UNI) The Delhi High Court awarded today death sentence to a Pakistani terrorist for causing bomb blast in a Nangloi bound blue-line bus killing 4 passengers and seriously injured 24 on December 30, 1997.

The division bench headed by Jutices RS Sodhi and PK Bhasin observed that Addl Sessions Judge had not erred in awarding death sentence to Mohd Hussain, the Pakistani national.

They didn't agree with the plea of the accused that he had been denied fair trial or legal aid during trial before the Addl Sessions Judge.

Addl Sessions Judge had awarded Mohd Hussain death sentence on November 3, 2004. The accused had also been awarded life imprisonment under Explosive Substances Act.

The explosion took place in a Nangloi bound blue-line bus at Rampura bus stand at around 6.20 pm. The bus had started from Ajmeri Gate terminal.

The division bench cited today following reasons for confirming the death sentence: Mohd Hussain illegaly entered into India a couple of months before incident of bomb blast.

Recovery of such explosive material from his house as were found by the CFSL similar to the extracts recovered from the bus.

He boarded the ill-fated bus on December 30, 1997, carrying a bag made of rexin. Soon after, he had got down the bus, explosion took place where he had taken his seat.

It may be mentioned here that Mohd Hussain, a Pakistani national, came to India in 1997. Although the prosecution proved that his visit aimed at causing deaths through terrorist activities, Mohd Hussain claimed to have come to India for sight-seeing.

Some of the arrested persons confessed during the interrogation to have come India for Jehad through terrorist activities.

They also divulged identity of Mohd Hussain, giving the police much-needed link to solve the case.

UNI SSS SHB RN2030