NDFB Founder- Chief Ranjan Daimary & 9 Others Found Guilty of 2008 Bomb Blasts: Sentenced To Life Imprisonment

NATIONAL Democratic Front of Bodoland founder Ranjan Daimary and nine others were on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment for their role in the 2008 Assam blasts, The Assam Tribune reported. Serial blasts had killed at least 88 people and injured more than 400 in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Barpeta on October 30, 2008.A special Central Bureau of Investigation court had held Daimary and 14 others guilty in the case. Daimary told reporters that he will challenge his conviction in a higher court. The court had acquitted one of the accused Mridul Goyary.The National Democratic Front of Bodoland has a ceasefire agreement with the Indian government, and has sought talks. But Ranjan Daimary’s sister Anjali Daimary, who is an animal rights activist, claimed that her brother’s conviction and the peace process cannot continue  simultaneously. .Amid tight security on court premises, CBI Special Judge Aparesh Chakravarty pronounced the quantum of punishment for Daimary, George Bodo, B Tharai, Raju Sarkar, Anchai Bodo, Indra Brahma, Loko Basumatary, Khargeswar Basumatary, Ajay Basumatary and Rajen Goyary.Three other convicts — Prabhat Bodo, Jayanti Basumatary and Mathura Brahma — will be released after they pay a fine imposed by the court.The CBI court has ordered the release of Nilim Daimary and Mridul Goyary in the case as they have already served their sentence.As he was being whisked away by the police, the NDFB chief told reporters that he would appeal to a higher court against his conviction.”Bodoland will be created as we continue to serve our jail sentence,” he added. His supporters, who had gathered near the court since morning, shouted slogans in favour of a separate Bodoland which is part of Assam . Daimary and 14 others have been  convicted under various sections of the IPC.The NDFB chief’s bail was cancelled immediately after his conviction and arrested, while the others were already in judicial custody. Nine serial blasts were triggered by the NDFB on October 30, 2008 — three each in Guwahati and Kokrajhar, two in Barpeta and one in Bongaigaon — killing 88 people and injuring 540 others. The CBI had taken over the case from Assam Police and had filed two charge sheets, naming 22 accused — seven of them still remained untraced .Manhunt has been launched (pic courtesy : Reuters).