Gauhati HC upholds life term for NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary

The Gauhati High Court today upheld the life sentence of the now disbanded NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary and 9 others for their involvement on October 30, 2008, serial blasts which killed 88 people and injured over 500.

Division Bench of Justice Suman Shyam and Justice Malasri Nandi upheld the sentences of 10 of the accused who were given life imprisonment by a special CBI court in 2019.

The court, however, acquitted 4 other accused in the case. All the accused had challenged the special CBI court verdict in the High Court.

The infamous serial blasts triggered by the NDFB in multiple places in Assam including Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, and Barpeta had sent shockwaves across the region.

Meanwhile, Bodo leaders have expressed their disappointment over the Gauhati High Court verdict.

Speaking to media persons, BTR CEM Pramod Boro said that he was a little saddened by the verdict and will consult the Assam government and Centre to find ways and means to reduce Daimary’s jail term.

Meanwhile, BTR deputy chief Govinda Basumatary urged family members and supporters of Daimary not to be disappointed by the verdict.

Following the blasts, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which filed charge-sheet against 22 including Daimari. Seven were declared absconders (three of them were suspected to have been killed in encounters with security personnel).

In January 2020, Daimari was released on interim bail for four weeks to travel to Delhi and sign a peace deal with the Centre that brought insurgency in the Bodo areas of Assam to an end.

The blasts on October 30, 2008, had taken place at several locations in Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, and Barpeta districts of Assam is the deadliest attack by terror outfits to date in the state.