Death penalty to 5 convicts in 7/11 Mumbai blast

Nine years after the 7/11 blasts that killed many local train passengers in Mumbai in one of the worst terror attacks in the country, a special court will on Wednesday hand down sentences to 12 people convicted for plotting and executing the bombings.

Speaking to reporters after the quantum of punishment was delivered, Gulzar Azmi of Jamiat-ul Ulema -which provides legal aid to the convicts – said they will move a higher court. One person was acquitted.

The accused were found guilty of charges under IPC, Explosives Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Indian Railway Act and those under MCOCA.

Earlier this month, after hearing the matter for eight years, the MCOCA court in Mumbai convicted 12 accused in the Mumbai serial train blasts case.

They also pointed out that the convicts faced several hardships in jail and that was also one of the mitigating circumstances.

The absconding – 13 Pakistan nationals-include Azam Chima, member of Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba. “Twelve of the 13 accused have been convicted”, Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare told the media after the verdict was pronounced.

On July 11, 2006, seven blasts erupted in the first-class compartments of crowded local trains within 11 minutes during the evening hour, when millions of people were heading home.

The seven bombs went off in trains at Matunga Road, Mahim, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Borivali and Mira Road stations spanning Mumbai and Thane districts.

Defence lawyers subsequently examined nine witnesses to show the court that the accused have undergone reformation and and thus may not be given capital punishment. Yakub Memon was hanged on July 30, for his role in the 1993 serial blasts case.