Life term without remission for four Delhi blast convicts
New Delhi, July 6
Citing severity of the offence resulting in death of innocent persons, the Supreme Court on Thursday awarded life imprisonment for the remainder of their lives without remission to four convicts in the 1996 Lajpat Nagar bomb blast case in which 13 persons were killed and nearly 40 injured.
The four convicts are Mohd Naushad, Mirza Nissar Hussain, Mohd Ali Bhatt and Javed Ahmed Khan. “In view of the severity of the offence resulting in deaths of innocent persons and the role played by each accused person, all these accused persons are sentenced to imprisonment for life, without remission, extending to natural life. Accused, if on bail, are directed to immediately surrender before the court concerned and their bail bonds stand cancelled,” a three-judge Bench of Justice BR Gavai, Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sanjay Karol said.A powerful blast rocked the bustling Lajpat Nagar market in South Delhi on the evening of May 21, 1996, killing 13 persons and injuring around 40 others, besides causing damage to private and public properties.
The Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front (JKIF)designated as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967had taken responsibility for the attack.
The Bench, which expressed concern over the delay in taking the case to its logical conclusion, noted that expeditious trial of such cases was the need of the hour, especially when it concerned national security and the common man.
