Today, On 8th April, The Telangana High Court has upheld the death sentences of five Indian Mujahideen operatives convicted in the 2013 Dilsukhnagar twin bomb blasts, which killed 18 people and injured over 100. The court affirmed the NIA Special Court’s 2016 verdict, citing the heinous and premeditated nature of the attack. The convicts were found guilty under IPC Section 302, UAPA, and the Explosive Substances Act.
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court determined that the death penalty is warranted for those accused in the Dilsukhnagar bomb blast case in Hyderabad. This ruling was delivered on Tuesday, affirming the earlier decision made by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court.
The court upheld the death sentences for the accused: Akhter, Zia-ur-Rahman, Yasin Bhatkal, Tahseen Akhtar, and Aijaz Shaikh, who were responsible for the blasts that resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
A bench consisting of Justice K. Lakshman and Justice P. Sree Sudha rejected the criminal revision appeal submitted by the IM operatives while affirming the NIA court’s decision.
The bench stated,
“Confirming the judgment of the trial court,”
On February 21, 2013, two bomb explosions occurred within minutes of one another near the Dilsukhnagar bus stand in Hyderabad. The first explosion happened right in front of the bus stand, followed by another blast approximately 150 meters away. The perpetrators concealed the bombs in tiffin boxes.
These coordinated attacks led to the deaths of 18 individuals and left around 130 others injured.
The National Investigation Agency, which conducted the investigation, identified Yasin Bhatkal from the Indian Mujahideen terrorist organization as the primary suspect.
It confirmed the involvement of five additional terrorists in the attacks and brought them before the court. After an extended trial, the NIA Special Court sentenced all five of the accused to death.
The convicts subsequently appealed the verdict to the High Court.
In its ruling on Tuesday, the High Court upheld the decision made by the NIA Court. The principal accused in the case, Riyaz Bhatkal, is still at large.
The convictions and ensuing death sentences were grounded in various provisions of Indian law, including:
- Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC): This section relates to the punishment for murder, which can include either the death penalty or life imprisonment.
- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA): This act addresses terrorism-related offenses and stipulates harsh penalties, including the death penalty, for terrorist actions that result in loss of life.
- Explosive Substances Act: This legislation governs the unlawful use of explosives and imposes severe penalties for causing explosions that could endanger lives or property.