The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Maximum punishment sought for Deendar men

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Maximum punishment sought for Deendar men

Staff Reporter

Judge to pronounce sentence on November 28

23 Deendar Anjuman activists convicted in the church blasts case
Advocate pleads leniency in punishment for them

BANGALORE: The prosecution on Saturday sought the maximum punishment of death or life imprisonment to the 23 Deendar Anjuman activists, who have been found guilty in the church blasts in 2000. The Special Judge S.M. Shivanagoudar will pronounce the sentence on November 28.

“These are the persons who are enemies of society. The court has to award the maximum sentence,” said public prosecutor H.N. Nilogal. He was arguing before Mr. Shivanagoudar, who was hearing the quantum of punishment to be imposed on the activists.

Conviction

On Friday, the judge convicted 23 persons for the four blasts that occurred in J.J. Nagar and Magadi Road police stations limits in Bangalore, Wadi police station in Gulbarga district and Keshwapur police station limits in Hubli.

Mr. Nilogal said Hazarath Moulana Syed Siddique Qibala alias Siddique Deendar Channabasaveshwara, the founder of Deendar Anjuman, sowed the seeds for jihad and Islamisation. His son Zia-ul-Hasan and Deendar Anjuman activists not only conspired against the country in Hyderabad, but also in Karnataka and Goa. The activists were also involved cases of robbery, he said.

“They have collected explosives and communicated with each other. It’s a planned and cold blooded act against the State. No leniency can be shown towards them,” he said. Waging war against the country cannot be morally justified. “If the court decides to give life imprisonment then it should be for the whole life and not for a term of 14 or 20 years,” he said.

‘Not against state’

Pleading for leniency in the punishment, G. Jairaj, advocate for the accused, said the acts of the convicts were not against the state but directed against religious conversions done by Christian missionaries.

“Though their acts are not justified, they were forced to do as there is no law prohibiting religious conversion. The issue is totally communal not touching the nation,” he said. Imposing death sentence will cause more damage and will have disastrous consequences, he added.

C.R. Abdul Rasheed, another advocate representing the accused, said the convicts were a victim of circumstances. They have just distributed pamphlets against religious conversion.

“There is no use of sophisticated weapons. They have not been funded for waging war against the country.” The convicts have already suffered for their acts, he said.

Later, Mr. Shivanagoudar heard through video-conferencing some of the convicts who pleaded for leniency by stating the condition of the family members.

“My wife and children are facing a lot of problems because of social isolation. They need my support. I have full faith in you,” said Mohammed Ibrahim, who is one of the 23 convicts.

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