Two accused in Chinnaswamy Stadium serial blasts case sentenced for eight years

The special National Investigation Agency (NIA), on Tuesday, delivered a judgement awarding imprisonment and fine to two of the accused in the Chinnaswamy stadium serial blasts case. The two accused have been awarded eight years of imprisonment each and a fine of Rs 4 lac.

Those held guilty in the case are Aftab Alam Farooq and Ghayur Ahmed Jamali, who have been awarded imprisonment and fine. Both hail from Bihar and have alleged links with the Indian Mujahideen terror group, revealed the police.

As many as 14 individuals have been accused for their involvement in the blasts. In July 2018, NIA had sentenced seven years of imprisonment to four accused individuals. In whole, six have been convicted so far. Meanwhile, the trial is still going on against the remaining four accused, according to the court sources, as reported by Bangalore Mirror.

Among them is Yasin Bhatkal, the purported chief of Indian Mujahideen. Three more accused fled away while another accused named Mohammed Qateel Siddiqui was murdered in Pune’s Yerawada jail in 2012.

The blasts had occurred on April 17, 2010 during RCB-MI match

The blasts had occurred on April 17, 2010, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match. Five improvised explosive devices were planted at the entrance of the stadium. Two exploded while three were defused. The explosions injured 15 people, including five security personnel. The Bangalore police had reported that the blasts were a result of low-intensity crude bombs which had timers.

In the wake of the blasts, the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians had started an hour later that day. Considering the popularity of the tournament, the stadium was jam-packed with fans during the explosion. The portions of an outer wall of the stadium was also blown off due to the blasts. A loud blast sound was heard by people before they started running.

“It is a minor bomb blast, but investigations are in full swing to find out who is responsible,” the police had said post the incident while revealing that a timer device was used to execute the blasts.