[Explosions In Narendra Modi Rally] Patna HC Commutes Death Sentences Of 4 Accused To Life Term In 2013 Gandhi Maidan Serial Blasts

The Patna High Court Today (Sept 11) commuted the death sentences of four accused, involved in the 2013 serial blasts case, to life imprisonment. The blasts took place at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan during an election rally being addressed by Narendra Modi who was the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

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BIHAR: The Patna High Court on Wednesday reduced the death sentences of four individuals convicted in the infamous 2013 Patna serial blasts case to life imprisonment. The blasts, which took place at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, had occurred during an election rally of then-BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who was campaigning for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

The verdict was delivered by a single-judge bench, led by Justice Ashutosh Kumar, who re-examined the earlier judgment of the Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court. This decision marks a crucial shift in the trajectory of the case, which has been in the public eye due to the high-profile nature of the incident and the involvement of national-level political figures.

Imran Ghani, the defense counsel representing the convicted individuals, confirmed the High Court’s decision. He explained that the court decided to alter the previous judgment by the Special NIA Court, which had sentenced four of the accused to death.

“In the Gandhi Maidan bomb blast case, the Patna High Court revised the verdict originally given by the Special NIA Court, which had sentenced four of the accused to death. The High Court, under the single bench of Justice Ashutosh Kumar, converted these death sentences to life imprisonment for a term of 30 years. The life imprisonment sentences for two other accused were upheld,”

-Ghani said.

The serial blasts, which rocked Patna on October 27, 2013, caused a wave of panic among the public. The coordinated explosions targeted not only Gandhi Maidan but also the Patna railway station, claiming the lives of six people and leaving over 80 others injured. The attack disrupted what was intended to be a large-scale political rally and exposed significant security vulnerabilities at the time.

After the blasts, the investigation was initially handled by the Patna Police but was soon handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) due to the gravity and scale of the incident.

The NIA identified 10 individuals as responsible for planning and executing the attacks. Of these, nine were ultimately found guilty by the court.

The convicted individuals were alleged to be affiliated with the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), two organizations with known extremist leanings. All of the accused are currently held in Patna’s Beur jail.

The list of convicted individuals includes Imtiaz Ansari, Haider Ali, Nawaj Ansari, Muzmullah, Umer Siddiqi, Azher Kuresi, Ahmad Hussain, Feroz Aslam, and Iftikhar Alam. A tenth accused, Faqeuddin, was acquitted by the NIA due to lack of sufficient evidence to link him to the blasts.

The Patna High Court’s decision to commute the death penalties to life imprisonment is seen as a major shift in the legal outcomes of the case. The revised punishment ensures that the convicted will serve a minimum of 30 years in prison, reflecting a more tempered approach compared to capital punishment.

However, the court upheld life sentences for two other individuals involved in the case, affirming that their role in the blasts merited severe punishment.

The blasts remain a traumatic memory for the victims and their families, as well as a stark reminder of the security challenges posed by extremist groups.

The reduction of the death sentences may bring closure to some, while others may continue to grapple with the long-term impact of the tragedy that unfolded that day.

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