The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday upheld the conviction of all persons in the 2000 serial church blast cases that had shaken three southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa.
The Court upheld imprisonment for life imposed on many convicts. However, the High Court commuted to life the death penalty imposed on some convicts by a special court in its 2008 verdict. The Special Court had convicted 23 persons in connection to four cases of blasts in Bengaluru, Kalaburagi and Hubballi.
A Division Bench comprising Justice N. Kumar and Justice Rathnakala delivered the verdict while dismissing the appeals filed by the convicts, who are all members of the banned outfit Deendar Anjuman Ashram.
ADVERTISEMENT
It has been held by the High Court that special court was right in holding that they all conspired to create disharmony among the Hindus and the Christians and there by waging a war against India.
The aim of the convicts and their outfit was ‘islamisation’ of entire world and India with help if those accused, who were settled in Pakistan after migrating to that country some time back, it was charged against them.