Hyderabad: 2 convicted, 2 acquitted in 2007 twin blasts case

HYDERABAD: Eleven years after the Lumbini park- Gokul Chat twin blasts in which 44 persons lost their lives and 68 sustained injuries, a local court on Tuesday convicted two Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives — MD Akbar Ismail Chowdhari and Aneeq Shafique Sayeed — in the terror attack case. The court will pronounce the quantum of punishment on Monday.However, two other accused were acquitted by the court for want of evidence."The court has convicted two of the four accused who were charged in the twin blasts case. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on Monday," K Surender, a counsel representing the investigating agency told TOI.Many in Hyderabad cheered the court verdict.“We have been waiting for this day for so many years. Finally, the families of the deceased souls have found peace,” said Srinivas Kumar, a local shop owner.While convicting Akbar and Aneeq for the August 25, 2007 blasts, the court has acquitted the other two accused — Farooq Sharfuddin Tarqash and MD Sadiq Israr Shaik, citing lack of evidence.In the twin terror blasts case seven people were named as accused, out of which three — Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal and Amir Reza Khan are on the run.During the court proceedings, lawyers for the prosecution said Aneeq planted bombs at Lumbini Park while Riyaz Bhatkal planned and executed the Gokul Chat blast. One bomb, planted by Ismail Chowdhari, failed to explode.The investigating agencies filed three different chargesheets in connection with the blast cases.The judgement was pronounced by T Srinivasa Rao, the in charge judge of IInd Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court. The verdict was given in a special court set up inside Cherlapally jail where all four accused where produced before the judge.The Counter Intelligence Cell, the investigating agency, filed a separate case against another accused Tariq Anjum, who was charged for providing shelter in New Delhi for the IM operatives, following the twin blasts. Judgement against Tariq is scheduled on Monday.One of the victim, Sadasiva Reddy's family members demanded capital punishment for the accused. Reddy suffered severe injuries on his legs and hands, besides speech impairment.