Serial blasts that shook Varanasi in 2006; death sentence to convict Waliullah Khan; verdict after 16 years

LUCKNOW: Waliullah Khan, the convict in 2006 Varanasi serial blasts case that shook the city, has been sentenced to death by Ghaziabad District Sessions Court. The terrorists planned to bomb in three places. 28 people were killed in blasts at the Sankatmochan temple and Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station. The third bomb found in Godaulia did not explode.

Sixteen years after the blasts, the court found Waliullah Khan guilty on Saturday. Following this, he was sentenced today.

The blasts took place on March 7, 2006 at two important locations in the city of Varanasi. The first blast occurred at 6.15 pm that evening. The next bomb exploded after 15 minutes at Cantonment railway station. About 100 people were injured in the blasts.

Sessions Court Judge Jitendra Kumar Sinha convicted Waliullah in two cases, which were lodged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections of murder, attempt to murder and mutilation, and the Explosives Act. A total of 121 witnesses were produced by the prosecution before the court in these cases.