Telangana High Court upholds death penalty to 5 convicts in 2013 Hyderabad twin blast case

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Courthon Tuesday upheld the death sentences awarded to five Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives convicted in the 2013 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case that claimed 18 lives and injured approximately 130 people.

A Division Bench comprising Justice K Lakshman and Justice P Sree Sudha dismissed the criminal appeals filed by the convicts, who are linked to the Pakistan-based terror outfit.

The five individuals had challenged the verdict of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court, which sentenced them to death in 2016. After years of hearings, the high court rejected their appeals and affirmed the original judgment.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence from 157 witnesses to the NIA Court. On December 13, 2016, the five accused were found guilty, and six days later, they were sentenced to death along with additional imprisonment terms and fines.

The convicts appealed to the Telangana High Court that same year. Their petition remained under consideration until this final ruling. All five are currently serving their sentences in various prisons across the country.

The NIA identified Mohammed Riyaz, also known as Riyaz Bhatkal, as the key mastermind behind the blasts. He remains at large and, according to investigators, is hiding in Pakistan. Authorities have issued a Red Corner Notice for his arrest.

The five convicts whose death sentences were upheld on Tuesday are Ahmed Siddibappa Zarrar alias Yasin Bhatkal, Ajaz Shaikh, Zia Ur Rahman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akthar alias Haddi, and Mohammed Tahseen Akthar alias Hassan.

On February 21, 2013, the first explosion occurred at 6:58 PM at bus stop number 107 in Dilsukhnagar. Moments later, a second blast took place near A-1 Mirchi Center close to Konark Theater. The coordinated attacks resulted in 18 fatalities and injured 130 people, including a pregnant woman and her unborn child. The Saroornagar Police initially registered the case before the investigation was transferred.

While the Telangana state government had planned to form a special investigation team, the NIA took over following the directives from the central Home Ministry. During its investigation, the agency determined that the terrorist organisation Indian Mujahideen was responsible for the attacks.

As part of the investigation, Ahmad Siddibappa Zarar alias Yasin Bhatkal and Abdullah Akthar alias Haddi were arrested in 2013 near the Indo-Nepal border. Based on information they provided during interrogation, Tahseen Akthar from Bihar and Zia-ur-Rahman from Pakistan were apprehended in Rajasthan by Delhi Police in May 2014. The NIA subsequently arrested Ajiz Sheikh from Pune.

The agency filed three chargesheets against six suspects in the NIA Special Court. Investigators noted that the suspects had previous cases registered against them related to terrorist activities. The trial began in 2015 against the five suspects, excluding the main accused Riyaz Bhatkal.