— Photo: AP

CONVICTED: Chand Khan (right) from Jammu and Kashmir and a co-accused in the temple attack case after appearing in a court in Ahmedabad.

AHMEDABAD: A Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court on Saturday sentenced to death three persons in the case relating to the attack on the Akshardham temple in 2002.

Designated POTA Court Judge Sonia Gokani also awarded imprisonment from five years to life to three others. The judgment was delivered in camera inside the high-security Sabarmati Jail here.

Briefing the media, Government Pleader Sudhir Brahmbhatt said the death sentences would be subject to confirmation by the Gujarat High Court.

It was the first major judgment of the designated court trying cases under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) in the aftermath of the communal riots in the State in 2002.

At least 33 persons were killed and 76 injured in an attack by two Pakistan-based terrorists on the famous Akshardham temple on September 24, 2002. Both the terrorists were gunned down in a night-long battle by the NSG commandos. Police later arrested six people in this connection while declaring 26 others as absconders.

Adambhai Sulemanbhai Ajmeri, Abdul Qayuum Mufti Mohammad Mansuri and Chand Khan Sajjad Khan were sentenced to death. Ajmeri was the autorickshaw owner who took the two terrorists around the city to help them choose a target. Mansuri had conducted the `fidayeen Namaz' for the terrorists and written the letters, calling for the "bloodbath of Hindus", which were found on the terrorists bodies. Chand Khan had arranged the supply of arms and ammunition.

Mohammad Salim Mohammad Hanif Sheikh, who arranged for shelter of the two terrorists, was awarded life imprisonment. Abdulmiyan Yasinmiya Quadri, a co-conspirator, received 10 years' imprisonment. Altafhussain Akbarhussain Malek, who was then residing in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and helped raise funds there to organise the attack, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

Malek was arrested when he came to Hyderabad for a visit. Barring Chand Khan, who was originally a resident of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh but running an automobile garage in Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir, the others were from Ahmedabad. Most of the 26 other accused, charged with conspiracy and planning of the Akshardham attack, are not Indian citizens. They reside in Pakistan or the Gulf countries. Police told the court there was no chance of their extradition as they had no details of addresses or passports to issue warrants.

Delivering the 500-page judgment in the presence of the accused, judge described it as the "rarest of rare cases" as defined by the Supreme Court, and said the accused needed to be handed down "salutary punishment."

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