LUCKNOW: An Indian court has sentenced a man to death over deadly bomb blasts that rocked the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, in a trial that took 16 years to reach a verdict.

Wasiullah Khan was convicted on murder and terrorism charges last week over the 2006 attacks, which targeted an ancient temple packed with worshippers and a nearby railway station. Around 20 people were killed in the blasts while dozens more were injured.

“The accused has been found guilty of murder and has been fined Rs 50,000. He will be hanged until death,” the trial judge said on Monday.

Khan was arrested just weeks after the blasts, but the trial was delayed after lawyers in Varanasi refused to represent him, prompting the Allahabad high court to transfer the case to Ghazia­bad. The death sentence will need to be approved by the high court.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2022