National Investigation Agency court defers judgement until Dec 13

DILSUKHNAGAR TWIN BLASTS

Hyderabad: A special court for cases probed by National Investigation Agency (NIA) here on Tuesday posted to December 13 the judgement in the February 2013 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case.

On November 7, the final arguments were concluded in the case before the NIA court at Cherlapally Central Prison here. The court had then reserved its judgement for November 21. As Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, the prime accused in the case, is absconding, the case was split up against him.

Charges were framed against the five other accused -- IM co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, Pakistani national Zia-ur-Rahman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahaseen Akhtar alias Monu and Aijaz Sheikh, who are at present lodged in the Cherlapally Prison. All the five accused appeared before the judge on Monday and the verdict was posted to December 13.

Eighteen people were killed and 131 injured in two deadly explosions near Konark and Venkatadri theatres in Dilsukhnagar, a crowded shopping area in the city, on February 21, 2013.

The accused were tried under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and other relevant acts including IPC. According to NIA, in furtherance of the conspiracy, Riyaz Bhatkal arranged for explosive substances and directed Asadullah Akhtar and Zia-ur-Rahman at Mangalore to receive the same.

After receiving the explosive materials and the money sent by Riyaz through hawala and money transfer channels, Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas reached Hyderabad and joined Tahseen Akhtar, who was already hiding there, it had said.

Together they prepared two IEDs after procuring the other required materials as well as two cycles for mounting the IEDs from Hyderabad, the agency had said.