Journalism of Courage
A sessions court Thursday will decide the quantum of punishment to be handed out to Mirza Himayat Baig,the alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba operative held guilty for his role in German Bakery bombing of 2010. On Monday,Baig was held guilty by additional sessions judge N P Dhote under sections of the IPC including murder,attempt to murder,criminal conspiracy and relevant sections of the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act and Explosive Act.
Dhote will hear arguments of both prosecution and defence lawyers on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to Baig before he will pronounce the sentence.
Baig may be asked to express his views. There are five different sections under which he has been convicted that can attract death penalty.
Baig is the only arrested accused in the terror attack that killed 17 and injured 58 on February 13,2010. Five others accused Fayyaz Kagzi,Yasin Bhatkal,Iqbal Bhatkal,Riyaz Bhatkal and Mohsin Chaudhari charge-sheeted by Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for their alleged role in the bombing,are still absconding.
Zabiuddin Ansari,also accused in 26/11 Mumbai attacks and 2006 Aurangabad arms and ammunition haul,was repatriated from Saudi Arabia in June last year for his alleged role in Mumbai attack case. He is yet to be arrested in the Pune case. The attack on the bakery,located in posh Koregaon Park and referred to as Punes own Cafe Leopold,proved that Pune was not immune to terror attacks.
Defence Lawyer Kainath Shaikh,said the defence would argue for lenient view on the sentence citing Baigs young age and scope for reformation. We will cite Supreme Court and High court judgments and will argue for lenient view on the sentence.
