Pune: A trial court in Pune found Mirza Himayat Baig, the sole arrested accused in the 2010 Pune German Bakery blast, guilty of carrying out the terror attack which killed 17 and injured 58 on February 13, 2010.
The court convicted Baig under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy) 435 (Mischief with an intent to cause damage), 435 and 474 (possessing forged documents) of the Indian Penal Code.
He was also convicted under Sections 3 (causing an explosion to endanger life) and 4 (making an explosive to endanger life) and 5 (making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances) of the Explosive Substances Act. He has also been convicted under various section of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
Five others accused Fayyaz Kagzi, Yasin Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal and Riyaz Bhatkal and Mohsin Chaudhari, who were chargsheeted by the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) are still absconding.
Zabiuddin Ansari, also accused in 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was repatriated from Dubai last year in the Mumbai case. He is yet to be arrested in Pune case.
The 2010 blast had rocked Pune three years ago.
The terror attack had killed 17 people, injured 58 and wrecked the popular eatery. It was the first major terror strike in Pune that dented its tag of being a peaceful city.
Following several months of investigations, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested Mirza Himayat Baig (alias Hassan alias Yusuf Sir), then 29, and a resident of Beed, from a bus stop in Pune.
On December 4, 2010, investigating officer ACP Vinod Satav filed a 2,500-page chargesheet against Baig and six others — Zabiuddin Ansari, Fayyaz Kagzi, Yasin Bhatkal, Iqbal and Riyaz Bhatkal and Mohsin Chaudhari. The six co-accused are still at large.
The attack on German Bakery, located in upmarket Koregaon Park area and referred to as Pune's very own Cafe Leopold, had proved that Pune was very much on the terror radar. The attack had highlighted the need for strengthening security and surveillance system in the city. |
