Kolkata: Three Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants, all Indian nationals, were sentenced to eight years in prison by the Kolkata Sessions Court on Thursday for their involvement in organizing terror activities in India. Chief Judge Sukumar Ray also imposed fines of Rs 25,000 each on the convicted terrorists.
With this, 12 of the 21 JMB men accused in this case were sentenced following admission of guilt, even as the trial will continue for the other nine. The three — Nur Alam Momin, Paigambar Sheikh and Ahmed Ali, all from Shamsherganj in Murshidabad — pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sedition, conspiracy and violations of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Explosives Act.
A 2020 operation by the Kolkata Police STF led to the arrest of 21 JMB members. These three militants were part of a larger group involved in various criminal activities, including the 2018 Bodh Gaya blast in Bihar. The three were sentenced to life earlier in 2021 by the special NIA court of Patna for the Bodh Gaya blast.
On Wednesday, all three admitted to being involved in terror activities. Chief Judge Ray gave them 24 hours to reconsider their confession. The accused admitted to their guilt again on Thursday, leading to the sentencing, said court sources.
Special public prosecutor Ganesh Maity confirmed that police recovered forged documents and explosive materials during probe. Defence lawyers Fazle Ahmed Khan and Zakir Hossain said their clients' confessions were motivated by a desire to reintegrate into mainstream society. The convicted terrorists will serve their sentences at Presidency Correctional Home.