38 sentenced to death in 2008 Ahmedabad blasts. The case in 6 points

A special court in Gujarat on February 18, 2022 sentenced 38 out of the 49 convicts to death in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case, news agency ANI reported. The court has also sentenced 11 others to life imprisonment.

A special court in Gujarat pronounced the death sentence to 38 out of 49 convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blast case. Eleven others have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the court, the special public prosecutor Amit Patel said pic.twitter.com/3zpjSFeQBY

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2022

The accused are convicted under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 121 (conspiracy to wage war or attempt to wage war against nation), 124 (a) sedition, 16 (a) (b) of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) related to punishment for terrorists act.

The court had concluded the trial on the 77 accused in September 2021. On February 7, 2022, the court had acquitted 28 of the 78 arrested in the case. The court said that it did not find evidence against these people and 16 people were acquitted on benefit of doubt. The court said that there was not adequate evidence against them. 

One accused, Aiyaz Sayed had turned approver in the case and hence charges against him were dropped.

The trial began on 78 accused in 2009. More than 1,100 witnesses were examined by the prosecution in the case.

Here is a quick glance at the case:

1. THE AHMEDABAD BLASTS

The Ahmedabad serial blasts occurred in 2008. 56 people were killed and more than 200 were injured. In a span of 70 minutes, 21 blasts had shaken the city. The blasts were just a day after bomb blasts shook Bangalore, Karnataka. The bombs were alleged to be planted in tiffin carriers on bicycles, a pattern similar to what was followed in the May 13, 2008 Jaipur bombings.

The blasts occured at several locations including Khadia, Raipur, Sarangpur, LG Hospital and Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, trauma centre. This was also the first such blast in the country where hospitals were targeted.

2. EMAIL RECEIVED

Several media agencies claimed to have received a 14-page email, allegedly sent by the attackers, just before the blasts. The subject line of the email read, “Wait 5 minutes for the revenge of Gujarat.” The blasts were said to be in revenge for the 2002 communal riots in the state after the Godhra train burning.

The email was alleged to be sent by Indian Mujahideen (IM) at 6.41 pm on the day of incident. The email was traced to Navi Mumbai by the police. The email also had threats against the then Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh, his then deputy, RR Patil; and even business tycoon Mukesh Ambani. It also contained threats against Bollywood actors to stop acting.

3. RESPONSIBILITY

Islamic militant group Indian Mujahideen (IM) took the responsibility for the attacks. The police said that IM was formed by some students of the banned outfit Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). 

4. THE LEADS

The police zeroed in on two Wagon-R cars parked in Surat. The cars were found to have materials for making explosives. One of the cars was also alleged to have a bomb which was defused later. Both the cars were found to be stolen and were traced to Navi Mumbai, from where the police said the cars were stolen on July 7 and 15, 2008.

On July 30, 2008, police also got the CCTV footage of the cars used for bombings. On August 4, 2008, the police made the first breakthrough in the case when it found the shop from where the LPG cylinders were sold which were later used in bomb blasts.

5. CASE CRACKED

On August 16, 2008, the Gujarat Police claimed it had cracked the case. Director General of Police PC Pande said, "Mufti Abu Bashir was the mastermind behind the attacks. He was arrested along with 10 of his accomplices."

In all, the Gujarat Police had arrested 85 persons out of which the trial started on 78 accused in 2009.

6. THE DEATH SENTENCE

Of all the 49 convicts in the case, 32 are in Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, 4 in Bengaluru, 7 are in Bhopal, 3 in Taloja and 2 in Jaipur. 38 of the 49 convicts have now been sentenced to death, while 11 have been handed out life imprisonment.