India court sentences 38 to death over 2008 blasts

 

Thirty-eight people have been sentenced to death for their role in a series of bomb blasts that killed 57 people and injured hundreds in 2008.

The bombings took place in Ahmedabad, the commercial capital of the Western state of Gujarat in India.

The court sitting on Friday, February 18 in Ahmedabad also sentenced 11 other convicts to life in prison.

On 26 July 2008, around 20 bombs exploded within an hour across residential areas, market places, public transport and hospitals in Ahmedabad. Several unexploded bombs were also found.

The Indian Mujahideen a militant group – had claimed responsibility for the attacks in an email sent to some media outlets.

Seventy-eight people had faced trial – one of the accused, Ayaz Saiyed, later helped investigating agencies.

The remaining 28 have been acquitted.

The Indian government declared the group a terrorist organisation and banned it in 2010 after it was accused of an attack on a German bakery in which killed 17 people.

The Judge AR Patel also ordered to give compensation of 100,000 rupees (£982; $1,337) each to families of the victim