Kolkata, April 27
The Dubai-based mafia don, Aftab Ansari, and five others involved in the attack on the American Center in Kolkata three years ago, were today given death sentence by the special city sessions judge, Mr Basudev Manjumdar.

They have been convicted under Sections 302, 307, 120 and 121 of the IPC and Section 27-A of the Arms Act for killing innocent people, waging war against the country and other criminal charges.

The judgement was delivered at a special court held inside Presidency jail under heavy security after a day-long wait by relatives and friends of the accused outside the jail compound. Even mediapersons were not allowed to go inside the jail premises at the time of the delivering of judgement. The judgement which was to be delivered at 10.45 am, was delivered at 5 pm as the judge heard the accused one more time.

Strongly, reacting to the judgement, the lawyers of Aftab Ansari and the other accused said the judgement was highly biased and irresponsible. They said they would move the high court against the judgement which had punished those who were not involved in the incident and the charges framed against them were unfounded.

The counsel for the state government, however, claimed that the judgement was judicious and justifiable to the crimes committed by the accused.

The public affairs officer of the American Center, Sushan Schultz, also expressed satisfaction at the judgement.

Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee and CPM secretary Anil Biswas were happy with the judgement.