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Death for Ashfaq in Red Fort attack case

     New Delhi: A Delhi Sessions Court on Monday awarded the death sentence to Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Mohammad Arif alias Ashfaq in connection with the December 2000 Red Fort attack case. Additional Sessions Judge OP Saini also awarded life imprisonment to two key conspirators Nazir Ahmed Qasid and his son Farooq Ahmed Qasid who were held guilty of waging war against the state along with Ashfaq. Ashfaq's Indian wife Rehmana Yousuf Farooqui (found guilty under section 216 IPC (harbouring an offender) and 218 IPC (trying to save a person from punishment) for providing shelter to the LeT militant), was given a seven-year jail term. Accused Bagar Mohsin Baghwala, Sadaqat Ali and Matloob Alam, who were pronounced guilty by the Special Judge on October 24 along with the other four accused, were also given seven-year prison terms.

     A thick security blanket has been thrown around the Karkadooma Court Complex ahead of the announcement of the verdict. The court had convicted the seven people while acquitting four others in the case on October 24. Two security personnel and a civilian were killed when two LeT militants stormed the 17th century monument, a symbol of India's independence, on December 22, 2000 and opened indiscriminate fire. A large section of the historical fort has been an Army base camp and housed about 1,000 soldiers. The court had framed charges against 11 accused on January 7, 2003.