SC commutes convicts' death sentence to life imprisonment

New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) The Supreme Court Wednesday commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment of two convicts who were involved in an attack on American Center Kolkata in 2002.

The attack took place Jan 26, 2002 in which five people, including four policemen, were killed.

In this matter seven people were tried, five were given varying terms of imprisonment and two were awarded death sentence by the trial court. The same was upheld by Calcutta High Court.

The apex court bench of Justice A.K. Patnaik and Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla while commuting the death sentence held that Aftab Ahmed Ansari, one of the convicts, will undergo life imprisonment till the end of his life.

The other convict Jamaluddin Nasir will undergo life imprisonment of 30 years without any remission.

Justice Kalifulla, while pronouncing the judgement, said, "Imposition of death penalty is not warranted."