Court awards death to one, life term to 6 in 1996 blast case

DAUSA: A local court today convicted seven men in an 18-year-old bomb blast case which had claimed 14 lives and awarded capital punishment to one and life imprisonment to remaining six.

Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bandikui (Dausa), Urmila Verma, gave the death sentence to Dr Abdul Hamid, the main accused, and life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1 lakh (each) to other six in the case.

They were convicted under various sections of IPC, including 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and others, according to special public prosecutor Vijay Tiwari.

The blast took place in a state roadways bus near Samleti village in Dausa while it was on its way to Bikaner from Agra on May 22, 1996 which left 14 passengers dead and 37 injured.

Those who were awarded life imprisonment are Latif Ahmed, Mohammad Ghani, Javed Junior, Abdul Latif, Mohammad Ali Bhatt and Rahis Bega.

The court acquitted one accused, Farukh, from the case.