JD (U) welcomes Bhatkal's death sentence

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The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Tuesday welcomed the death sentence awarded to Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal by a special NIA court in Hyderabad, in the 2013 Dilsukhnagar blast case.

"It is a welcome move if anyone is involved in anti-national activities that affect the unity of the country. It is a lesson for them. In future this decision will deter people in involving in terror related activities," JD (U) leader Rajiv Ranjan told ANI.

The court awarded death sentence to Bhatkal and four others including, Zia-ur-Rehman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahaseen Akhtar and Aijaz Sheikh, and IM founder Riyaz Bhatkal, the prime accused in the case, who is absconding.

On November 7, the final arguments had concluded in the case before the NIA special court. Since IM founder Riyaz Bhatkal, the prime accused in the case, is absconding, the trial was split up against him.

Eighteen people were killed in the twin blast. The first bomb went off at Anand Tiffins, located opposite Konark Theatre while the second bomb exploded between Venkatadri Theatre and Dilsukhnagar Bus Stand.