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Red Fort case : Death sentence for Pakistani national |
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In a strong anti-terror message, Pakistani national Ashfaq Ahmed has been sentenced to death in the sensational Red Fort attack case of December 22, 2000 in which two Army personnel and one civilian had died. Additional Sessions Judge O.P. Saini pronounced the quantum of sentence against the seven convicted in the case on Monday, October 31. Ashfaq Ahmed, a mastermind of the Lashkar-e-Taiba was awarded the death penalty under section 302 (murder) and 121 (waging war against country) of the Indian Penal Code, and also fined Rs. 4.35 lakh.
The judge awarded life imprisonment to two other key conspirators namely Nazir Ahmed Qasid and his son Farooq Ahmed Qasid on being guilty of waging war against the state along with Ashfaq. They were also asked to deposit a fine of Rs. 75,000 each.
Rehmana Yusuf Farooqi, the Indian wife of Ashfaq was given seven years rigorous imprisonment under sections 118 (non-disclosure of the designs of Ashfaq) and 216 (for providing shelter). The court also fined Rehmana Rs. 20,000.
Two other accused, Babar Mohsin Baghwala and Sadaqat Ali were awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment under sections 216 and 118, for sheltering main accused Ashfaq. The court also slapped a fine of Rs. 20,000 each against the accused.
Another accused, Matloob Alam, who has been convicted of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery under section 468, was awarded rigorous imprisonment of seven years along with a fine of Rs. 20,000.
Ashfaq and five other terrorists had sneaked into the 17th century Mughal monument at 9 p.m. on December 22, 2000 and opened indiscriminate fire, killing two jawans of Rajputana Rifles and a civilian.
Pronouncing the judgment, the Judge said, “The facts speak unmistakably and loudly that these people conspired to wage war against the Government of India. The foreign national and his accomplices had entered Indian territory with a view to destabilise the functioning of the Government and weaken society.”
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