Even as Shaukatullah Ghouri, a key co-conspirator in Akshardham attack case of 2002, was arrested in Hyderabad on Saturday night, there are still more than 20 accused who are yet to be arrested in the case. They include Abu Hamza, a LeT member now based in Riyadh, who is believed to be the mastermind in the case.
However, sources close to the development say that these accused will be nabbed soon. “Many of the co-conspirators of the Akshardham attack case who have been listed as absconding will also be nabbed by the crime branch," said a source.
Ghouri, a suspected Lakshar-e-Toiba operative, who is believed to be involved in the temple attack case, was arrested soon after his arrival from Saudi Arabia at the RGI Airport in Shamshabad, Hyderabad on Saturday. Ghouri was wanted by the Gujarat police.
Special public prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt told DNA, "Ghauri is said to be present at the meeting held in Riyadh and is believed to be the co-conspirator of the Akshardham temple attack case." It is also believed that Ghouri had connections with terrorist organisations such as LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed, sources said. Absconder Abu Hamza, a LeT member now based in Riyadh, is believed to be the mastermind in the case.
In October 2008, the crime branch had nabbed Majid Patel in connection with the temple attack case. Patel was one of the absconders in the case. Sources said that Patel's bail plea had been rejected by Gujarat high court and he is now in judicial custody.
Earlier, in the case, the Pota court had awarded death sentence to three accused and imprisonment of various terms to another three. However, the convicts had moved Gujarat High Court against the Pota court order and the case is pending there.
Order on plea pending
In 2006, the designated Pota court convicted six accused for the attack. The six accused - Mohammed Salim Sheikh, Abdul Miyan Qadri, Altaf Hussain, Chand Khan, Adam Ajmeri and Mufti Abdul Mansuri - were convicted for providing logistic support to two terrorists who were gunned down by commandos. Three of these accused were sentenced to capital punishment and they are Chand Khan, Adam Ajmeri and Mufti Mansuri. Of the remaining three, Abdul Qadri and Altaf Hussain were sentenced to 10-year and five- year jail terms respectively, while Mohammed Sheikh was sentenced to life.
However, the six accused moved Gujarat high court challenging the conviction. The state had then also approached the high court for confirmation of capital punishment awarded to three of the accused. Although hearing on both the petitions began in March, an order by the high court on has been reserved.
