The chief of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) along with nine others were on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment by a special CBI court following their involvement in the 30 October 2008 Assam blasts which resulted in over 80 deaths and serious injuries to several others.

Amid tight security on the court premises, CBI Special Judge Aparesh Chakraborty pronounced the quantum of punishment for NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary, George Bodo, B Tharai, Raju Sarkar, Anchai Bodo, Indra Brahma, Loko Basumatary, Khargeswar Basumatary, Ajay Basumatary and Rajen Goyary.

The CBI court in the city ordered the release of Prabhat Bodo, Jayanti Basumatary and Mathura Brahma after paying their due fine. The CBI court has ordered the release of Nilim Daimary and Mridul Goyary in the case as they have already served their sentence.

READ | NDFB chief, 14 others convicted in 2008 Assam blasts

On the fateful day, the militant outfit engineered nine blasts in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta and Bongaigaon that injured over 450 people, some of whom are still suffering. The worst terror incident in Assam preceded by a few weeks the sensational 26 November Mumbai terror attack that killed over 150 people, including nine Islamist terrorists.

As he was being whisked away by the police, the NDFB chief told reporters that he would appeal to a higher court against his conviction. “Bodoland will be created as we continue to serve our jail sentence,” he added. His supporters, who had gathered near the court since morning, shouted slogans in favour of a separate Bodoland. Daimary and 14 others were convicted on Monday under various sections of the IPC.

The NDFB chief’s bail was cancelled immediately after his conviction and arrested, while the others were already in judicial custody.

Nine serial blasts were triggered by the NDFB on 30 October, 2008 ~ three each in Guwahati and Kokrajhar, two in Barpeta and one in Bongaigaon ~ killing 88 people and injuring 540 others.

The CBI had taken over the case from Assam Police and had filed two charge sheets, naming 22 accused ~ seven of them still absconding. The first charge sheet was filed in 2009, followed by the second and the final one on December 20, 2010. The trial began in 2011 and the fast track court took over the case in 2017.

During the course of the trial, the statements of 650 witnesses were recorded and over 600 exhibits examined. Daimary was arrested in Bangladesh in 2010 and was shifted to Guwahati Central Jail.

He was released on conditional bail in 2013 after the state government and the CBI stated before the Kamrup District and Sessions Judge that they had ‘no objection’ to his release, if he was given conditional bail in view of the ongoing peace talks with the NDFB.

The court had imposed eight conditions, including restrictions on Daimary from holding public meetings and media interviews.