HYDERABAD: Eleven years after twin blasts in Hyderabad killed 44 people, the two terrorists who planted the bombs were awarded the death penalty by a sessions judge here on Monday. A third terrorist, who was convicted on Monday of harbouring Indian Mujahideen (IM) founders Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal in Delhi after the blasts, was sentenced to life imprisonment.While Aneeq Shafique and Ismail Chowdhari were given the death penalty, Tariq Anjum was given a life term. The bombs were planted in Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat Centre, two of the most crowded areas of Hyderabad, on August 25, 2007. The blasts were triggered by Aneeq and Riyaz Bhatkal. A third bomb, planted at Dilsukhnagar, did not explode. Before judge T Srinivasa Rao pronounced the verdict, all three convicts claimed they were innocent and had been framed by police. While Aneeq and Ismail said they should be let off since they had already served 10 years in jail, Tariq said he did not know the Bhatkal brothers.The judge started the proceedings at 11 am and continued till 6 pm. The prosecution pitched for capital punishment for the convicts while the defence counsel pleaded for leniency.Special public prosecutor K Surender said Aneeq and Ismail were given capital punishment under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC and Section 16 (1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The duo were given life imprisonment in the Dilsukhnagar case.During the court proceedings, prosecution lawyers said Aneeq planted bombs at Lumbini Park while Riyaz Bhatkal planned and executed the Gokul Chat Centre blast. The bomb at Dilsukhnagar was planted by Ismail. While Aneeq and Ismail were convicted last week, two of the accused were acquitted. Three others, the Bhatkal brothers and one Amir Reza Khan, were declared absconders. Defence counsel G Gurumurthy told reporters that he will appeal in the HC against the capital punishment.