All five accused in Bodh Gaya blast found guilty

The special NIA court on Friday declared all the five accused belonging to a banned terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen guilty in the Bodh Gaya serial blast case. Lawyers said that “the next date for the hearing has been fixed for May 31 when the quantum of punishment to all convicted terrorists is likely to be pronounced”.

The Buddhist town in Bihar had witnessed the serial blast on the morning of July 7, 2013, in which several monks who had gathered for their special prayer were badly injured.

According to lawyers representing NIA, “90 prosecution witnesses had appeared before the court for cross- examination”. All the accused belonged to the Ranchi module of the Indian Mujahideen and Student Islamic Movement of India ( SIMI). The NIA during their initial probe had recovered some explosives and documents from a Ranchi based lodge which helped them in cracking the case. The investigation report states that the mastermind Haider Ali along with other conspirators Imtiyaz Ali, Omar Siddiqui, Mujibullah, Omar Siddiqui and Azharuddin Quraishi had planned the attack to avenge the alleged atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

The conspirators had planted 10 cylinder bombs at various locations including the Mahabodhi tree. The first charge sheet in the case was filed against seven persons on May 29, 2014. However, proceedings against six persons were initiated as the seventh accused Tariq Ansari had died in the bomb blast at Patna railway station.