July 6, 2019:
A district court in Assam convicted six persons & acquitted eight others in the 2004 Dhemaji school blast case on Thursday.
District & Session Judge Sutham Das prounounced the verdict after hearing the arguments & examining 55 witnesses.
"Four of them -- Muhi Handique, Jatin Duwari, Dipanjali Gohain & Lila Gogoi -- have been sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 120 B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) & 302 (Punishment for murder) of
Indian Penal Code (IPC)," said Advocate Nitya Saikia.
Two others -- Prashant Bhuyan & Hemen Gogoi -- were awarded 4 years imprisonment while the main accused Rashid Bharali is absconding.
At least 18 people were killed & 40 others were seriously injured after an explosion rocked Dhemaji College at around 9:30 am on Independence Day in 2004. Most of the victims were school children aged between 12 & 14.
The eight who were released of all charges are Minu Borah, Joya Chutiya, Jiten Chutiya, Apsara Bora, Govind Kalita, Jaychandra Chutiya, Chandranath Gogoi & Mohan Chutiya.
The bomb, which was planted near the college gate, was triggered by a remote-controlled device when students & teachers were passing through.
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