A special CBI court in Guwahati sentenced National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) chairman Ranjan Daimary and nine others to life imprisonment on Wednesday for their involvement in the 2008 Assam serial blasts case that had claimed 88 lives and wounded around 450.
The court had convicted 14 of the 15 accused in the case on January 28 under various sections of the IPC. Mridul Goyari was acquitted for lack of evidence.
The CBI had chargesheeted 22 people in the case and seven of them – Jitu Daimary, Arun Borgayary alias Dinthilang, Bishnu Goyari alias G. Bidai, Tarun Swargiary, Tensu Narzary alia Thungri Boro, Dinesh Boro and Uttam Swargiary alias Ulafat – were declared absconders including three who are believed to be dead.
Amid tight security in court premises, CBI Special Judge Aparesh Chakraborty pronounced the quantum of punishment for Daimary, George Bodo, B Tharai, Raju Sarkar, Anchai Bodo, Indra Brahma, Loko Basumatary, Khargeswar Basumatary, Ajay Basumatary and Rajen Goyary.
Three other convicts - Prabhat Bodo, Jayanti Basumatary and Mathura Brahma - will be released after they pay a fine imposed by the court.
The CBI court has ordered the release of Nilim Daimary and Mridul Goyary as they have already served their sentence.
The NDFB chief's bail was cancelled immediately after his conviction and arrested, while the 14 others were already in judicial custody.
Ranjan Daimary, Gorge Boro, Ajay Basumatary, Rahul Brahma, Rajen Goyari, Onsai Boro, Lokra Basumatary, Indra Brahma, Boisagi Basumatary alias B. Thorai and Raju Sarkar have been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ranjan Daimary who is in peace talks with the Centre said that they would appeal in the higher court even as his sister Anjali Daimary said it would halt the peace process.
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.
(With inputs from PTI)
