Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 18: Partially reversing the judgment delivered by the special court three years ago relating to setting off blasts in three different churches in the state during year 2000, the high court converted death sentences awarded to eight of the accused into life imprisonments. At the same time, the division bench of the high court chaired by Justice N Kumar and Justice N Rathnakala confirmed the life imprisonments imposed on the other 12 accused.

These persons, who belong to the organization, 'Deendar Anjuman', had made an effort to ignite communal clashes between Hindus and Christians by setting of blasts in churches.

'By attacking churches, the accused tried to destroy the fabric of communal harmony in the society. They also posed serious threat to the unity and integrity of the nation. This was a despicable act executed by perverted criminals to destroy the exalted principles practiced by the country, which has held norms of unity in the midst of diversity high and noble,' the bench observed.

The bench also observed that the pamphlets and books seized from the possession of the defendants have proved that they wanted to spread Islam all over the country and convert India into an Islamic nation. 'They wanted to warn the entire world to accept Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) as the only guide and Guru. The literature confiscated from them also prove that they firmly believed that nine lac believers (Pathans) can invade South India, and then take control of entire India', the bench observed. The bench noted with regret that this plan only depicts the stupidity of these people.

22 persons of the said organization had planted and set off bombs in three churches in the state 14 years back. The special court, which found 20 among them guilty, had awarded death sentence to eight of them, and life term to the other 12, through a judgment delivered on November 11, 2008. Out of them, one had died in bomb blast, while the other died during the hearing of the case. The accused had appealed against the special court's judgment in the high court.

Ijahar Baig, Sayyed Abbas Ali, Muhammed Sharfuddin, Muhammed Khalid Choudhary, Sheikh Hasim Ali, Muhammed Akheel Ahmed, Sayyed Muniruddin Mulla Sayyed and Muhammed Ibrahim are the lucky persons who were spared the noose by the high court.