Six of the seven accused terrorists held by the Bangalore police for alleged links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in South India have been convicted by the second fast track court, on Saturday. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on December 19.
The incident came to light during the course of investigation into the 2005 Indian Institute of Science (IISc) terror attack. Those convicted are Mohammed Razur Rehman, Afzal Pasha, Mehboob Ibrahim Chopbar, Noorlula Khan, Mohammad Irfan and Nizamuddin alias Munna. They have been convicted for criminal conspiracy against the nation under Section 120(b) of the CrPC.
After two-and-a-half year hearing of the case Judge GR Revankara of the 2nd Fast Track Court at the city civil court convicted the accused terrorists. The seventh accused, Chand Pasha, has been acquitted. Nearly 73 witnesses were examined and 278 documents have been marked.
It may be recalled that on December 28, 2005, terrorists had opened fire at IISc campus in Bangalore, killing one scientist and injuring three others. Scientist MC Puri of New Delhi had succumbed to a bullet injury at a city hospital. KK Seetha Rama, public prosecutor for Lok Ayukta, specially appointed to conduct the case in the previous submissions in the court, revealed that the case was registered at Sadashivnagar police station.
During the course of investigation Mohammed Razur Rehman was caught at Nalgonda in Andhra Pradesh and later brought to Bangalore. He was then produced before the then assistant commissioner of police VS D’Souza.
New lead
During interrogations it became known that Rehman has no role in IISc attacks, but the police stumbled upon his LeT links. Rehman admitted that he is the South Indian commander of LeT.
The leaders of the terrorist outfit, based in Saudi Arabia, had decided to carry out terrorist activities in India to take revenge for the Babri Masjid demolition and for alleged victimisation of Muslims in the country.
Rehman had set up a camp at Nalgonda and recruited the other accused, who hail from the other states such as Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
Later they moved to Chinthamani in Kolar district and formed a charitable trust and carried out anti-national activities. Rahman also admitted that they were going to receive arms and ammunitions from other countries to carry out terrorist activities.
The funds were to come from Saudi Arabia. Rehman was arrested by the Bangalore police as he was coming out of a masjid.
Based on his submission the other accused were arrested.
Police recovered explosives at Lakshmipura and at Kadumaleshwar Mountain.
Police had also recovered a lot of anti-national literature from the houses of Rehman and other accused. However, one accused terrorist is absconding.
Since the 2005 IISc terror attack case led to a new lead altogether, a new team was formed to investigating the case.
A separate case was registered at the Sadashivnagar police
station.
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