The man who executed Red Fort attack gets death sentence

Sep 13: In a verdict the Delhi High Court has upheld the death sentence of the main accused in the case and Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Mohd Ashfaq, and his wife Rehmana Farooqi has been sentenced to 7 year imprisonment and acquitted the other six.

Islamic militant group, Lashkar-e-Toiba of Pakistan, had earlier claimed to carry out the attack.

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On pronouncing the verdict the Bench of Justice R S Sodhi and Justice P K Bhasin said that prosecution has proved its case with sufficient evidence against Ashfaq and so far the prosecution failed to prove the offence against the other six who were acquitted on the lack of evidence.

"We uphold the conviction and death sentence to Ashfaq and the remaining six convicts are acquitted," the Bench said.

The court found them guilty on various charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, waging war against Indian Government and hourbouring the offender.

Prosecution were seeking death sentence for Nazir Ahmed Qasid and Farooq Ahmed Qasid, a father and son but they, were awarded life sentence for being key accused in waging war against the country. Other accused being given varying jail term.

Ashfaq in the meantime has challenged the Court judgment and will appeal to Supreme Court.

Earlier a trial court has convicted seven people of attacking an army barracks at the Red Fort in Delhi. They were found guilty of murder and raging war on India. Three people died in December 2000 attack on Red Fort.

This attack was followed by another attack on Parliament which killed 14 people.

Terrorism had crippled the nation’s development, and India lost many lives fighting terrorism killing many innocent and damaging national properties.