K'taka: 11 given death scentence for Church attacks

Bangalore, Nov 29: The special court, set up to go into the bomb blast cases in various parts of Karnataka in 2000, on Saturday, Nov 29 ordered death sentence to 11 people and confirmed life sentence to 12 people of the 34 accused in these incidents.

Special Judge Justice S M Shivanagoudar gave his judgement through video conferencing from the Session Court Complex because of security reasons. As many as 25 of the accused in four cases were tried by the special court and they were lodged in the Parappan Agrahara prison on the outskirts of the city. While three of the accused had died, seven were absconding and two were out of bail.

Public Prosecutor H N Nilogal termed the judgement as historic.

The special court tried four cases that were registered in regard to explosions at the churches in Wadi in Gulbarga district, Keshavapur in Hubli and J.J. Nagar in Bangalore. Another case was related to a van blast in the city.

Those accused on whom the death sentence was ordered were Mohmad Ibrahim, Shaikh Hasham Ali, Hasnuzama, Abdul Rehaman Saith, Amanath Husain Mulla, Mohmad Sharfuddin, Sayed Muneerudin Mulla, Mohmad Akhil Ahmed, Ijahar Baigh, Sayed Abbas Ali and Mohmad Khalid Choudary. Four were acquitted and they were Mohmad Riyazuddin, Mohmad Jafer, Ismail Akki and Amir Hamza.

Those who were awarded life sentence till death were Mohmad Farook Ali, Mohmad Siddiqi, Abdul Habeeb, Shamshuzama, Shaikh Fardin Vali, Sayed Abdul Khader Zilani, Mohmad Giyasuddin, Meerasab Koujalagi, Rish Hiremath, Basheer Ahmed, Mohmad Husain and Sangli Basha.

Those absconding were Zia-ul-Hasan, Sayed Khalid Pasha, Zahed ul Hasan, Shabi ul Hasan, Khaleel Pasha, Shaikh Amir and Sayed Wahab.

UNI