After more than 8 years, a local court in Barabanki gave life term to an alleged Harkat-Ul-Jehad-al-Islami(HUJI) terrorist, Tariq Kasmi in connection with a serial blasts in civil court permises in the state in 2007. Additional Session Judge of the SC/ST court in Barabanki, Shanti Prakash Arvind awarded a life term toTariq Kasmi and also slapped him with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The court found the accused involved in keeping explosives and indulging in anti lawful activities.
Tariq Kasmi, a Unani doctor and one Khalid Mujahid were arrested by the sleuths of the Special Task Force on December 22, 2007, for their alleged involvement in November 23 2007 serial blasts at court premises in lucknow Varanasi and Faizabad. Altogether 15 people were killed and around 250 injured in these blasts. later on police had arrested Kasmi and Khalid Mujahid.
The arrests however had come under a lot of questions with charges being leveled against UP Police of fabricating innocent youths in the case. later on even an inquiry was ordered in the arrest. SP during its election campaign for 2012 assembly elections had promised to release innocent Muslims caught in terror cases. In April 2013 Akhilesh govt had made a written plea for withdrawing case against the two in Barabanki court. However the court had rejected the plea, ordering for continuation of the trial.
The case had seen a sensational development on May 18, 2013 when one of the two accused, Khaild Mujahid, died under mysterious circumstances while being brought back to the lucknow jail, after appearance in court case in Faizabad. Meanwhile, Tariq’s counsel Randheer Singh alias Suman here said that the decision of court will be challenged in the Allahabad High Court.