Ajmer blast case: JD (U) demands stern punishment for three accused charged

New Delhi/Patna [India], March 9 (ANI): Condemning terrorism and terrorists belonging from any religion, the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) on Thursday urged the legal system to issue stern punishments to the three accused in the 2007 Ajmer blast case within certain a time frame, in order for it to become an example for others. "In such cases any court should work a little strictly and the verdict on such issues should be given within a time frame. So that the accused get a fitting punishment which can become an example for others, so that they think twice before carrying out such untoward activities," JD(U) leader Sunil Kumar told ANI. Earlier on Wednesday, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court held three accused guilty in the Ajmer blast case, the degree of punishment for whom will be decided by the court on March 16. The guilty have charged under the Explosive Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Out of the three guilty, Sushil Joshi is already dead. Seven including Lokesh Sharma, Mukesh, Chadrashekhar, Mehul, have been acquitted in the case. Swami Aseemanand was accused in the Ajmer blast case as per the NIA's chargesheet filed in 2007. The agency accused Aseemanand of hatching the conspiracy of bombing Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti shrine, thereby killing three people and injuring 17 others. The investigation in the matter was later handed over to the ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) in November 2007. Later in December 2010, the court chief judicial magistrate court permitted the National Investigation Agency to interrogate accused. After the change of government at the Centre in 2014, the case was moved in a fast-track court. (ANI)