2014 Burdwan blast: Kolkata court sentences 'Boma Mizan' to 29 years’ imprisonment

A special court in Kolkata sentenced Kausar alias "Boma Mizan", a leader of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, to 29 years' imprisonment in a case filed over explosion at a house in West Bengal's Burdwan district in October 2014.

Judge Subhendu Samanta pronounced the judgement yesterday (Wednesday), reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Mizan (35), hailing from Shekharbhita village of Bangladesh's Mymensingh district, was found guilty under stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for waging war against the democratically-established governments of Bangladesh and India. He was also convicted under the Foreigners Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act. 

The special court sentenced the highest prison term to Mizan, out of the 31 accused in the case who were earlier convicted and sentenced.

Mizan, who was arrested by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), was also fined Rs 35,000.

Head of JMB, India (unit), Boma Mizan has also been charge-sheeted in another terror case probed by NIA related to the blasts in key Buddhist shrine in Bodh Gaya, Bihar in January, 2018.

On October 2, 2014 a powerful improvised explosive device went off on the first floor of a rented house in busy Khagragarh locality of Burdwan district.

The IED had accidentally gone off at the time of its fabrication by the members of JMB. Two members of the group succumbed to their injuries in the explosion.

The case relating to the Khagradaha incident was initially registered by West Bengal police, which was subsequently taken over by NIA for investigation, eight days after the incident.

Investigation by NIA revealed a conspiracy by JMB to radicalise, recruit and provide training in arms and explosives to its members in India for committing terrorist acts and waging war against the democratically-established governments of India and Bangladesh.

A large number of IEDs, explosives, hand grenades, training videos were recovered during the investigation into the Burdwan blast case.

After extensive investigation, a total of 33 accused were charge sheeted by NIA for various offences in the Burdwan blast case. Out of 33 accused, 31 were arrested.

Thirty accused persons have already been convicted and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment by the special court in Kolkata in the Burdwan blast case.

The trial against the remaining two absconding charge sheeted accused persons is continuing.