By IANS
Coimbatore : Nine more men, accused in the serial bombings in this Tamil Nadu city in 1998, were given life sentences Thursday, a day after 31 Islamic radicals were given the life terms for the terror attack that killed 58 people.
Special Judge K. Uthirapathi sentenced a total of 30 accused Thursday. Eight of them got rigorous imprisonment sentences of seven to 10 years.
After Thursday’s orders, 65 of the 70 accused whose sentencing began Thursday have been declared guilty.
Those sentenced Wednesday include Syed Ahmed Basha, founder of the militant Islamic outfit Al Umma and the chief accused, who has been given a life term.
All the accused were charged with causing the devastating bomb blasts that rocked this textile city Feb 14, 1988, killing 58 people and injuring over 250 on a day Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani was to address an election meeting.
Mohammed Hakim, one of the convicts, had completed his jail term in the case but could not be released because he was continuing an earlier life sentence pronounced in Nagappattinam a few years ago.
While four accused were released Wednesday, five were set free Thursday since they had served their terms.
There was some drama Thursday when two of the convicts turned their backs to the judge immediately after the pronouncement of sentence and prayed facing the west.
“Though these deeds can be deemed contempt of court, I will not take it as such because they had prayed from within the barred cage when the trial was on. So it is nothing new. Further, while this court respects the religious sentiments of the convicts, it should be clear to the defence that we also have performed our legal duty,” the judge said, reacting to the prisoners’ actions.
Orders concerning an approver and four others will be made Friday, the judge added.