Kochi: A court in Ahmedabad has pronounced its verdict in the case related to the deadly blasts that took place in Gujarat city in 2008. On this occasion, the Kerala connection to the blasts may be recalled. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), during its investigations, had found that four bikes used in the blasts were taken from Kerala to Gujarat for carrying out the crime.
NIA later confirmed that one of these bikes was registered in the name of a person belonging to Mattancherry in Kochi. After learning the chassis number through a forensic examination, NIA officers arrived at Kochi in June 2012 as part of their probe.
In Kochi, the NIA collected evidence from the Regional Transport Office at Mattancherry, the regional office of the City Corporation, a ration shop in the area and some houses near the address of the registered owner of the bike.
Another Kerala connection to the Ahmedabad blasts is that three of the 38 persons sentenced to death belong to the southern state. They are Shibili, Shaduli and Sharafudeen.
Judge A R Patel of the Special Court, Ahmedabad had found 49 persons guilty for the blasts, which took place at 21 spots in the city on July 26, 2008, claiming 56 lives. The three Keralites sentenced by the court reportedly took part in the terrorist training camps at Vagamon and Panayikulam in Kerala.
Initially, the Gujarat Police had arrested 85 persons in connection with the blasts. Later, the trial started against 78 people who were members of Indian Mujahideen, a wing of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), and they were charged with murder, criminal conspiracy and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). One among the accused later turned approver.
