2005 Delhi blasts: 67 people were killed in blasts that took place at Sarojini Nagar, Kalkaji, Paharganj.
Highlights
- Terror mastermind Tariq Ahmed Dar convicted, two other accused let off
- Dar convicted only for belonging to banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba
- Over 60 people were killed, 100 injured in serial blasts in Delhi in 2005
In what is being seen as a setback for the Delhi Police, only one of the three men accused in the 2005 serial blasts case in Delhi -- in which more than 60 people died - has been convicted. But Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Tariq Ahmed Dar, accused of being the mastermind of the blasts, has been convicted only for belonging to the banned terror organisation. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10-year jail term. He has already served 12 years in jail. The other two men have been acquitted outright.
The Delhi court, which has been hearing the case for the last 8 years, said the prosecution has not been able to establish any link between Tariq Ahmed Dar, Mohd Rafiq Shah and Mohammad Fazli.
Hence, it can't be said that Tariq Dar had hatched a conspiracy and none of the charges of plotting a terror attack can be made out.
The police's main evidence against Tariq Dar -- an intercepted phone conversation between him and an alleged Lashqar handler -- also failed to convince the court.
The court said Dar was referring to a "Diwali tohfa (gift)", which the police said was a reference to the blasts. But it was allegedly recorded after the blast. In which case, the court questioned, "Why was he asking his handler whether he knew about it, because by then it was widely publicized in media?"
The court said there were allegations that Tariq Dar had received Rs 14 lakh through the hawala route, but there was no evidence what it was meant for.
There was also no witness that Dar had come to Delhi.
The serial blasts of October 29, 2005 at in Sarojini Nagar, Kalkaji, and Paharganj had claimed the lives of 67 people. More than 200 people were injured.
Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists Tariq Ahmed Dar, Mohammed Rafiq Shah and Mohammed Hussain Fazili were arrested. In 2008, the court framed charges against Dar, the alleged mastermind, and the other two. They were accused of waging war against the state, conspiring, collecting arms, murder and attempt to murder.