Nov 2022
From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a review petition by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Ariv alias Ashfaq against the death penalty awarded to him in connection with the 2000 Red Fort attack.
Six LeT terrorists had sneaked into Delhi’s Red Fort on December 22, 2000, and opened indiscriminate firing on the guards of the 7th Battalion of Rajputana Rifles, killing three, including a civilian. The army personnel present in the fort retaliated but the militants escaped.
The police identified the deceased as Abdullah Thakur, a civilian sentry, Rifleman Uma Shankar, and Naik Ashok Kumar. “Naik Ashok Kumar succumbed to injuries during treatment in the hospital hours after the incident,” a senior police officer said.
Four days after the incident, the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Pakistani militant Mohammed Arif alias Ashfaq and his wife Rehmana Yousuf Farooqui following an encounter in Southeast Delhi’s Jamia Nagar area. On February 20, 2001, the police filed chargesheet against Ashfaq and 21 others.
On September 11, 2001, a special court began trial against 11 out of 22 accused. Eight accused were declared proclaimed offenders, while three were killed in separate encounters. On December 4, 2002, charges were framed against eleven accused. Ashfaq and two others were charged with waging war against the Government of India. On October 24, 2005, the court convicted Ashfaq and six others. Four of the accused were acquitted.
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