Khagragarh blast: 19 convicts get 6 to 10 years' jail term
Kolkata: A special NIA court in Kolkata sentenced 19 people, including four Bangladeshis, to six to 10 years of imprisonment in connection with the Khagragarh blast case on Friday.
"Four Bangladeshi nationals have been given 10 years of imprisonment by the court," Advocate Md Abu Salem, told reporters after the announcement of quantum of punishment by the special NIA court.
The four Bangladeshis — Sheikh Rahamatullah, Mohd Rubel, Tariqul and Habibur Rahaman – pleaded guilty before the court. They were awarded 10 years of jail and Rs 20,000 fine.
The court also sentenced the four Bangladeshi nationals to three years in prison under Foreigners' Act and Passport Act.
"They four Bangladeshis will be given push back after the completion of the imprisonment," said the advocate.
Two women — Gulsana Bibi and Alima Bibi – and a student from Assam Shaikul Islam Khan have been given six years of imprisonment along with Rs 20,000 fine. Abdul Hakim, Amjad Ali Sheikh, Md Sahanur Alam, Md Rejaul Karim, Habibur Rehman, Giyasuddin Munshi, Mofajjul Ali, Abul Kalam, Lal Mohammad, Abdul Wahab, Md Sahidul Islam and Nurul Haque Mandal were given 8 years of imprisonment and fine of Rs 20,000 each.
They were convicted under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 125 (wages or attempts to wage war against the government of any Asiatic power in alliance or at peace with the government of India), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act. Trial of the remaining 12 accused in the case would continue, National Investigation Agency (NIA) lawyer Shyamal Ghosh said.
Khagragarh blast occurred in Bengal's Burdwan district on October 2, 2014 in which two people were killed. The duo was making improvised explosive device under the instructions of banned terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and it exploded at a rented room in Khagragarh. Bombs were made in the room under the guise of a burqa manufacturing unit.
The blast blew the lid off a flourishing network of the banned JMB in Bengal. The investigation into the case was first taken up by the Bengal CID and was transferred to the NIA within a few days.
While the case was undertaken by NIA in 2014, the first charge-sheet was submitted in March 2015.
Charges were framed against 31 accused in July 2016. Out of the 31 accused, 19 of them confessed to crime and appeared before the NIA court.
Founded in April 1998, the JMB has been listed as a terror group by the UK. It is a terrorist organisation operating in Bangladesh and wanted to replace the government of Bangladesh with an Islamic state based on Sharia Law.
