- On 13 May 2008, there were 8 blasts in Jaipur, 185 people were injured.
- Special court acquits accused Shahbaz Hussain for lack of evidence
The special court on Friday sentenced the four terrorists to death in connection with the serial bomb blasts on May 13, 2008 in Parkota area. Earlier on Thursday, his sentence was debated. The public prosecutor considered it the rarest of the matter and demanded the execution of Mohammed Saif, Sarwar Azmi, Saifur Rahman and Mohammad Salman. 71 people died in these blasts which occurred eleven and a half years ago, while 185 were injured.
Earlier, the court on Wednesday acquitted Shahbaz of the 5 accused arrested in the bomb blast case giving benefit of doubt. While all four were convicted in the serial blasts, criminal conspiracy and other crimes at 8 places. On May 13, 2008, there were serial bomb blasts at 8 places in Parkota. 71 people died in these, while 185 were injured.
The court said – Jihadi mentality behind the explosion
The court held the terrorist organization Indian Mujahideen (IM) responsible for the serial blast. Both the terrorists killed in the Batla encounter were also convicted by the court. Atif Amin was described as the main conspirator of the blast. The court said that there was a jihadi mentality behind the blast. This mentality did not stop here. After this, explosions were also carried out in Ahmedabad and Delhi. The court convicted Mohammad Saif, Saifur Rahman, Sarwar Azmi and Mohammad Salman under the murder, treason and Explosives Act. Two criminals have been killed in the Batla House encounter in Delhi.
The convicts cried & begged in court to avoid punishment
During the debate on the sentence in the court, the convicts were crying and begging. The points of conviction of Mohammad Saif were first debated. The defense counsel had said that the culprit is young. He is from a good family. The entire family has an impeccable background. There is also no criminal history. Has spent 11 years in jail and there is no direct evidence against him. Has been a student of MA final year. He was doing a good job. He is also not a member of any wrong organization, so concession should be given.
While discussing the sentence of Sarwar Azmi, the lawyer had said – On May 19, 2008, he was appearing for the BE examination, whose background is very clear. Sarwar’s father and brother are doctors. He has spent 11 years in prison. Therefore, a concession should be given, after which debate on the punishment of Saifurrahman was sought to be made.
Advocate in favor of Salman said that he was a minor at the time of arrest. The juvenile court also considered him a minor, the matter is currently pending in the High Court. In response to this, the court said that he has been considered as adult in Delhi. In defense of Saifur Rahman argued that brother and father are doctors. Do not have a criminal record and he is not much old.