Three get death for 1996 Lajpat Nagar blast

NEW DELHI - Fourteen years after a blast rocked Lajpat Nagar market killing 13 people, a city court Thursday awarded death penalty to three convicts held guilty for murder and sentenced a fourth to life imprisonment.

District and Sessions Judge S.P. Garg awarded death sentence to Mirza Nissar Hussain alias Naza, Mohammad Naushad and Mohammad Ali Bhatt alias Killey.

The court handed down life imprisonment to Javed Ahmed Khan. A fine of Rs.35,000 was also imposed on him.

Farida Dar, the lone woman convict held guilty for a lesser offence, was awarded a jail term of four years and two months. A fine of Rs.10,000 was also imposed on her.

Farooq Ahmed Khan was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs.5,000 was imposed on him.

Farida and Farooq were convicted for offences like possession of explosives that carry a maximum punishment of seven years.

The blast took place May 2, 1996 evening in the busy Central Market area of Lajpat Nagar killing 13 people and injuring 39 others.