Charges framed against Ahmed Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal in German Bakery blast case
Pune: Charges were framed against Ahmed Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal, alleged co-founder of the terror organisation Indian Mujahideen, in the 2010 German Bakery blast case at a trial court here Monday.
Ahmed Siddibappa was produced before the court amid tight security. Charges were framed against him under various sections of the IPC, Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, said special prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar.
Seventeen people were killed and 64 injured in the blast at German Bakery, an eatery in the Koregaon Park area in Pune, in February 2010.
Ahmed was earlier convicted in the 2013 Hyderabad twin blasts case and awarded death penalty by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in July 2018.
He was brought here from Delhi's Tihar jail Monday and produced before additional sessions judge K D Vadane. This was the first time since his arrest that he has been brought to the Pune court.
Prosecutor Pawar said the Delhi Police filed an application stating that due to security reasons, they would not be able to bring Ahmed to Pune for trial, and further hearing should be conducted via video-conference.
Zahir Khan Pathan, Ahmed's lawyer, opposed the Delhi Police's request, saying the accused must be present during the trial. "It is the duty of the state to provide security....He can be lodged here at Yerawada Central Jail till the trial ends," he said, adding that he would file his submission on the issue on May 15. The NIA arrested Ahmed, suspect in over 40 terror cases, from the Indo-Nepal border in 2013.
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Affiliate of Iranian state TV claims a US pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran
Dubai (AP): A local channel of Iranian state television claimed Friday that a US fighter pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran.
The US did not respond immediately to requests for comment over the claim.
The anchor on the channel in Iran's Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province read the following announcement: “If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police, you will receive a precious prize.”
The channel provided no other immediate details.
US Central Command, the Pentagon and White House didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
