2005 Ayodhya terror attack: Four terrorists get life imprisonment
What's the story
A special court in Prayagraj announced its verdict in the 2005 Ayodhya terror attack case, sentencing four accused to life imprisonment on Tuesday. One other accused has been acquitted by the court.
The attack took place on July 5, 2005, wherein a terrorist conducted a suicide bombing to break through the security cordon around the disputed Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya.
Here's more.
Details
Verdict delivered at Naini Central Jail, where accused were jailed
On Tuesday, special judge Dinesh Chand pronounced the court's verdict on the trial of Dr. Irfan, from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and four others, who were all residents of Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, namely, Ashiq Iqbal alias Farooque, Shakeel Ahmed, Mohammad Naseem, and Mohammad Aziz.
The verdict was delivered at Naini Central Jail, where the accused were imprisoned, due to security reasons.
Attack
Six terrorists entered India through Nepal disguised as Hindu pilgrims
Thirteen years after the Babri Masjid was demolished, six terrorists entered India through Nepal disguised as Hindu pilgrims.
The terrorists boarded a Tata Sumo, along with the driver, Rehan Alam Ansari.
At the makeshift Ram temple site, Ansari and five terrorists exited the car, while the sixth one drove towards the first security barricade and blew himself up around 9 am, India Today reported.
Encounter
CRPF personnel killed all five terrorists during encounter
The five terrorists later moved towards Sita Rasoi, hurling grenades and firing automatic rifles. Two civilians- Ramesh Pandey, and Shanti Devi- were killed.
An hour-long encounter followed and CRPF personnel gunned down all five terrorists. Seven CRPF jawans were killed and three others injured.
Previously believed to be Lashkar-e-Taiba operators, the six terrorists were later alleged to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
Case
Five accused later arrested for providing logistic support to terrorists
District Government Counsel, Allahabad, Gulab Chand Agrihari stated that the five accused were later arrested by the police for hatching a conspiracy and providing logistic support to the terrorists gunned down during the July 5 attack.
Agrihari added that 63 prosecution witnesses were examined by the court, including Ansari, who wasn't aware of the terror attack plot and became a key police witness.
Information
Alleged mastermind was killed in 2007 by Delhi, Jammu police
Back in 2007, the alleged mastermind of the Ayodhya terror attack, JeM divisional commander Saifullah Qari, was reportedly shot dead during an encounter in the Janipur area of Jammu conducted by a joint team of Jammu and Delhi police.