4 sentenced to death by NIA court in 2013 Patna serial blasts ahead of PM Modi's rally

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court also sentenced two to life imprisonment, two to a 10-year jail term and one to seven years in jail, reported NDTV

Imtiaz Ansari, Mujibullah, Haider Ali, Firoz Aslam, Omar Ansari, Iftekhar, Ahmed Husain, Umair Siddiqui and Azharuddin were convicted in the case and one Fakhruddin was acquitted, stated the report.

On October 27, 2013, blasts rocked Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan, the place  Modi, then Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, was going to address a "Hunkar Rally".

The explosions took place just before Modi arrived.

Shortly before, blasts also took place at the Patna railway station.

NIA investigations later found the blasts were planned and executed by the proscribed Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and a Ranchi module of its new avatar, the Indian Mujahideen.

Last week, the NIA court convicted nine out of 10 accused in connection with the serial blasts and acquitted one due to lack of evidence.

News agency PTI reported quoting NIA counsel and Special Public Prosecutor Lalan Prasad Singh that the anti-terror organisation submitted charge sheets against 11 people, including a minor.

While the minor's case was sent to the juvenile justice board, the others were put on trial, he said.