Five convicted in 2013 Bodh Gaya blasts case

A special court of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Patna on Friday convicted five people, holding them guilty of the serial bomb blasts that had rocked Bihar's temple town Bodh Gaya in July 2013.

The verdict was pronounced by special NIA judge Manoj Kumar Sinha, who held the five guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Act. The hearing on deciding quantum of punishment is scheduled on May 31.

Only July 7, 2013, Bodh Gaya, arguably the holiest Buddhist pilgrim centre in the world, witnessed Bihar's first terror attack when serial bomb blasts in a span of less than 60 minutes, rocked the town and left many, including some monks, injured. At least four bombs were planted on only the temple premises including one near the sacred Mahabodhi tree, while several others exploded within few kilometres of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The five accused - Mujibullah Ansari (28), Haider Ali alias Black Beauty (30), Azaharuddin Qureshi (25), Imtiyaz Ansari alias Alam (35) and Umer Siddiqui (39), are said to be operative of the banned outfit - Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), besides having connections with Indian Mujahideen (IM), a police source said.

Siddiqui and Quraishi are natives of Chhattisgarh while the rest were from Jharkhand. Haider Ali was believed to be the mastermind of the attack and temple's sketch etc were recovered from the Ranchi lodge, where he resided. Another accused Taufique Ansari was sentenced three years imprisonment by the Juvenile Justice Board last year.

The prosecution lawyer told reporters that "Around 90 witnesses were examined and electronic, documentary and circumstantial evidences such as DNA lifted from the site matching with the accused - were produced before the court." He said the statements recorded by the witnesses placed on record that the blasts had been carried out to avenge alleged atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar by the Buddhist majority.

The six convicts (including Taufique) are also facing trial in the October 2013 Gandhi Maidan bomb blasts case, when a public meeting "Hunkar rally" addressed by then Gujarat Chief Minister and PM candidate Narendra Modi was rocked by multiple explosions, leaving five dead and several others injured.

90 WITNESSES

The prosecution lawyer said nearly 90 witnesses were examined. The attacks had been carried out to avenge allege atrocities on Rohingya in Myanmar by the Buddhist majority, he said.