SC stays Ansari death order

A three-judge Bench of the apex court had on May 10 stayed the death penalty of Jamiluddin Nasir,allegedly a close aide of Ansari in the attack,and had put on hold the Kolkata High Court verdict of February 6,2010.

The terrorist attack on the centre claimed lives of six policemen and injured 14 others on January 22,2002. The brain behind the attack was a Dubai-based don,Aftab Ansari,who was arrested in Dubai and sentenced to death by a Sessions court in April 2005.

A Division Bench of Justices Ashim Banerjee and Kalidas Mukherjee had upheld the death sentence to the duo after a 77-day hearing.

The accused were charged under Sections 121 (waging war against the state),121A (conspiracy),302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 27(3) of the Arms Act.

Two motorcycle-borne terrorists had opened fire from their AK-47 and AK-56 assault rifles on policemen guarding the American Centre,killing five policemen on the spot and injuring 15 others. Another policeman succumbed to injuries in hospital later.