BKI terrorist, others plead guilty in twin blasts case

Babbar Khalsa International's terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara on Thursday pleaded guilty in a Delhi court, along with four others, of their alleged roles in the 2005 twin blasts at Satyam and Liberty cinema halls in Delhi.

With Hawara -- the assassin of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh -- and his four accomplices admitting their guilt, Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Siddhartha sentenced them to jail terms already undergone by them during adjudication of the twin blast case.

Others who pleaded guilty and were sentenced along with Hawara are BKI members Balwinder Singh, Jaspal Singh, Vikas Sehgal and Jagannath Yadav.

With the court sentencing them to jail term already undergone by them, the four others barring Hawara, who have already spent over seven years in jail, would be released.

Hawara is currently serving a life term for assassinating former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. He is also facing trial in another case and cannot be released.

In the twin blasts case, Hawara was charged only for harbouring Jaspal and Vikas, who were actively involved in executing the blasts.

The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on each of them.

Balwinder, Jaspal, Vikas and Jagannath, who were in custody since May 31, 2005, pleaded guilty of conspiracy to commit offences against the state, attempt to murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the Indian Penal Code and the Explosives Substance Act.

The five also pleaded guilty under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The blasts had taken place on May 22, 2005 and the bombs were triggered by crude devices during the screening of the controversial Hindi film Jo Bole So Nihaal.

Sixty people were injured in the twin blasts. While the first explosion rocked Liberty cinema on the busy G T Karnal Road in central Delhi around 8.15 pm, the second one took place at the Satyam cinema at Patel Nagar some 20 minutes later.

At Liberty cinema, the explosive device had been planted under a seat while the blast at the Satyam cinema had taken place in the toilet.

Advocate Manninder Singh, appearing for the convicts, sought leniency from the court, saying all of them were prepared to undergo any sentence which would be imposed by the court.