GUWAHATI: After the long 15 years since the blast rocked Dhemaji town of eastern Assam on the Independence Day of 2004 killing 13 persons including 10 school-going children and three women, the court of District and Sessions Judge, Dhemaji on Wednesday gave the final verdict convicting seven of the total 15 accused.
The court awarded life term in jail to five of the accused and four-year rigorous imprisonment to two other accused. The court acquitted eight persons who were also charge-sheeted in the case.
The court awarded life term in jail to Jatin Duwori, Leela Khan, Dipanjali Gohain, Muhi Handique and Rashid Bharali, who is considered the mastermind of the blast and is still absconding.
The four-year rigorous imprisonment was awarded to Prasanta Bhuyan and Hemen Gogoi.
The court acquitted Mohan Chutia, Chandra Nath Gogoi, Gobin Kalita, Joy Chandra Chutia, Apsara Borah, Jaya Chutia, Jiten Chutia and Meena Baruah.
On August 15, 2004, an improvised explosive device (IED) which was planted at a corner of Dhemaji College playground, the venue of official Independence Day celebration, went off before hoisting of the national flag in presence of government officers, security personnel, besides students and local public attending the I-Day function.
Thirteen persons were killed and 40 others injured in the blast for which the banned militant group, ULFA was blamed for the dastardly act
Sidharta Taid, Pradipta Gogoi, Rupa Saikia, Manjeet Gogoi, Juganta Padun, Bijit Sonowal, Nomita Gogoi, Chitrawati Doley, Dhanada Gogoi, Dinesh Padun, Manashi Borgohain, Aruna Saikia and Girin Saikia were killed on the spot of the blast. Ten of the victims were students aged between 12 and 14 years.
Meanwhile, kin of the blast victims sounded very dissatisfied with the amount of punishment pronounced by the court for the dastardly act of violence and cast aspersion over the trial proceedings.