Tunda attacked in court by man
Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) bomb expert Abdul Karim Tunda was on Tuesday assaulted by a man, said to be Hindu Sena activist, in Patiala House court complex while being taken to be produced in the court of metropolitan magistrate Jay Thareja.
He was remanded to four days police custody after he was produced for the first time before a city court following his arrest last week.
70-year-old Tunda, wearing a white Pathan suit and a skull cap, was brought inside the court complex in a police jeep escorted by four vehicles.
The moment he stepped out, a person, claiming to be a member of ‘Hindu Sena’, started shouting slogans. The protester was seeking death penalty for Tunda on the ground that he has been involved in anti-India activities.
While the police personnel were taking him to the courtroom, Tunda was hit on his back and stomach by the alleged Hindu Sena activist who was sitting outside the court. He also demanded death sentence against the accused saying, “Tunda is a traitor, he should be hanged.”
However, his attempt to slap the accused was thwarted by the escorting police personnel who later formed a human chain to guard him. The court directed the police to ensure safety of Tunda after the incident.
Metropolitan Magistrate Jay Thareja, before whom Tunda was presented, sent him to four days’ police custody for further interrogation. The alleged LeT terrorist, suspected to be involved in over 40 bombings in the country, will now be presented in court on August 24. His earlier police custody ended Tuesday.
However, the court decided to hold in-camera hearing after an advocate created ruckus in the court in the middle of the proceedings.
According to a source, Tunda told the judge, “I am innocent, I used to teach Quran and in Jehad killing old people, women and children is not permissible.”
When asked by the judge as to who will represent him in the case, Tunda said, “Sir, I do not have the money to pay to the lawyer.”
Later on, advocate M.S. Khan appeared and told the court that Tunda has already signed “vakalatnama” (power of attorney) in his favour. The court also allowed the special cell to take Tunda to another state to collect evidence in the 1994 Malviya Nagar explosives seizure case.
Delhi-born Tunda was on the list of top 20 terrorists wanted by India.
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