Waliullah gets 13 yrs imprisonment in Varanasi blasts case

Lucknow, Aug 26 (UNI) A local court here today sentenced Waliullah to 13 years imprisonment in the Varanasi serial blasts case and imposed penalty of Rs 1.05 lakh in two different cases, even as the Judge acquitted the accused in other cases, including sedition.

Additional Session Judge Samsher Tripathi pronounced the judgement of 10 years imprisonment and over Rs one lakh fine under Section 15/16 of the Unlawful Act, while another three years imprisonment and Rs 5,000 penalty under Section 3/25 of the Arms Act for possessing a foreign-made pistol.

Government counsel Aslam Javed Siddiqui said generally, a penalty under Section 15 was imposed for involvement in terrorist activities. Mr Siddiqui further said the outlaw was not charged with the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections as no documentary evidence was found against him.

Waliullah, a resident of Phulpur in Allahabad district was arrested under Gosaiganj police station in the state capital on April 5, 2006, when he was coming to Lucknow from Haidergarh.

Police had recovered 1.5 kilograms of RDX, two detonators and one foreign-made pistol from his possession. But during the court hearing police did not mention the recovery of RDX and detonators in their chargesheet.

Waliullah was also accused of harbouring the terrorists involved in the Varanasi serial blasts that occurred on March 7, 2006 and police during the investigating said he provided rented room and pressure cookers and explosives to them in Allahabad.

Later, Waliullah fled to Haidergarh, when the explosion rocked the temple city.

Cases under Section 121, 121(A), 122, 124(A), 153(A), 213 and 120(B) of the IPC along with other sections of the unlawful Act and Arms Act were registered against the accused.

Altogether eight witnesses appeared for the prosecution's side, while just one witness was presented by the counsel of the accused.

UNI MB JAS LPB HT1850