Ranjan Daimary, 9 others awarded rigorous life sentences in the 2008 serial blasts case

2008 SERIAL BLASTS

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/BONGAIGAON: The Court of the Special Judge, CBI, Assam on Wednesday sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment with fines the chief of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Ranjan Daimary alias DR Nabla, and nine others in the 2008 serial blasts case that had claimed 88 lives across Assam.

Amid tight security in Court premises, Special Judge Aparesh Chakraborty pronounced the quantum of punishment for Daimary, George Boro alias John alias B Jwankhang, Baishagi Basumatary alias Bithurai, Raju Sarkar, Onsai Bodo alias Ajit Boro, Indra Brahma, Lokhra Basumatary alias Lobo, Khargeswar Basumatary alias Rahul Brahma alias Kharamswar, Ajay Basumatary alias B Aogi and Rajendra Goyary alias Rajen alias Rifikhang.

Three other convicts — Prabhat Bodo alias Tepa, Jayanti Brahma alias Jugamai and Mathu Ram Brahma alias Mudai have been sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs 3,000 each.

Further, the CBI Court has imposed a fine of Rs 200 on Nilim Daimary.

Ranjan Daimary and 14 others were convicted on Monday under Sections 120(B)/302/324/326/435/436 IPC; 10/13/16/20 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act ; and 3(b)/4 (a) (b) (ii) of Explosive Substance Act.

The NDFB chief’s bail was cancelled immediately after his conviction and he was arrested on Monday, while the 14 others were already in judicial custody.

Altogether nine serial blasts were triggered by the NDFB on October 30, 2008 — three each in Guwahati and Kokrajhar, two in Barpeta and one in Bongaigaon — killing 88 people and injuring 540 others.

The NDFB is in talks with the Government of India. Meanwhile, Anjali Daimary, a rights activist and sister of Ranjan Daimary, said “this kind of judgement and peace process cannot go together. The Government must ensure that the peace process signed between the group and the Government is not derailed.”

Manas Sarania, the Counsel for Ranjan Daimary, said that “the verdict of the CBI Special Court would be challenged in the High Court and if required, in the Supreme Court later.”

Meanwhile, the NDFB has called for a 12-hour long Assam bandh on January 31. In a press release, B Ohnjalu, NDFB general secretary, said that in the light of life sentence awarded to president DR Nabla and nine members of the party by CBI special court on Wednesday, the NDFB has declared 12-hour Assam bandh on January 31.

Also read: CBI special court convicts Ranjan Daimary and 14 others for October 30 bomb blast