Kochi, Friday, August 12, 2011: Thadiyantavida Nazir, the first accused in Kozhikode twin blast case was sentenced a triple life imprisonment by the Ernakulam NIA court here on Friday. The fourth accused, Shafaz was sentenced a double life imprisonment.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 100, 000 on each of them. Third accused Halim and ninth accused Yusuf were set free by the court.

The Court had on Thursday convicted the first accused Thadiyantavida Nazir and fourth accused Shafaz in the case.

The Kozhikode blasts have taken place on 3rd March, 2006 in two bus stands of the city. Two policemen and a porter were injured in the blasts.

A breakthrough in the Kozhikode blast case came after Abdul Sattar alias E T Zainuddin, an electronics engineer and a native of Malappuram who is based in Hyderabad, was arrested in January 2008 on charges of making the timer-fitted bombs which were used in the Bangalore blasts of July 2008.

He exposed LeT operative Thadiyentvida Nazir’s role in the Kozhikode blasts which is believed to have been carried out as a curtain- raiser for the Bangalore blasts. Meanwhile, Abdul Halim, another accused who was arrested by the police, confessed that the blast was planned by Nazir.