M A I N   N E W S

Pakistani gets death penalty for ’97 Delhi blast

New Delhi, November 3
A Delhi court today sentenced a Pakistani national to death for causing an explosion in a private bus seven years ago, killing four persons and injuring 24 others.

Noting that Md Hussain, alias Zulfiquar, was guilty of having committed the crime in a cruel, dastardly and diabolic manner on December 30, 1997, Additional Sessions Judge O.P. Saini said: “If left alive, he will be a menace to the society. He must cease to exist in the interest of the society.”

Mr Saini said it was clear from the record that the crime was committed following a deep-rooted conspiracy, preplanning and sinister design which was executed within three months after the convict entered the country illegally.

Observing that the act was the worst example of terrorism committed by a hostile alien in order to create panic in the Capital, the judge said: “The facts of the case make it one of the rarest of the rare cases which needs to be punished with the extreme penalty of death for three reasons — deterrence, penalty and safety.”

Calling for the extreme sentence, the judge said: “This view is further strengthened by the fact that a section of foreigners is actively, habitually and systematically engaged in encouraging, instigating and perpetuating acts of extreme violence in our country.”

The police said the accused had caused an explosion in a blue line bus plying between Ajmeri Gate and Nangloi on December 30, 1997. The blast occurred when the bus was at Rampura near Punjabi Bagh.

Four persons — Tapti (30), Taj Mohammad (20), Narayan Jha (25) and Rajiv Verma (30) — lost their lives and at least 24 others were injured in the incident.

Besides ordering a death sentence, Mr Saini also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Md Hussain, a resident of Okara in Pakistan, who was arrested on March 21, 1998.

While three accused — Abdul Rehman, Azhar Ahmed and Maqsood Ahmed — were earlier discharged in the case, another person, Abdul Karim, is absconding. — UNI