A special MCOCA court on Wednesday sentenced five convicts to death in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings case.
The five — Kamal Ansari, Faisal Shaikh, Estesham Siddiqui, Naveed Khan and Asif Bashir Khan — were given death penalty for committing murder and criminal conspiracy under Sections 302 and 120B of the IPC, respectively.
The court, in its order, said: "They shall be hanged by their necks till they are dead."
However, the five maintained that they were innocent and expressed their faith in higher courts.
Three of the 12 men convicted in the case being escorted by police to the court in Mumbai on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
The rest were given life imprisonment for offences under MCOCA, UAPA and waging war under Section 121 of the IPC.
"We were hoping for acquittal. ...a higher court will acquit them, " said Sajid Ansari's wife. He was among those who received life imprisonment.
The MCOCA court recently convicted 12 persons and acquitted Abdul Wahid Din Mohammed Shaikh.
Seven serial blasts ripped through Mumbai's suburban railway network on July 11, 2006, leaving at least 180 dead and several injured.
Public prosecutor hails punishment
public prosecutor Raja Thakare had sought death for the eight persons convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, but the court awarded it only to five persons.
“I welcome the verdict on punishment. I am happy that the court did not wholly accept the prosecution’s submission and it independently assessed the material and came to its own conclusion,” Mr. Thakare told The Hindu.
The 189th victim of the attack, Parag Sawant, died this July after a long battle with life-threatening injuries. There were initially 13 accused in the case. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court recently convicted 12 persons in the case, acquitting Abdul Wahid Din Mohammed Shaikh.
The convicted will appeal against the trial court verdict in the High Court after receiving a copy of the judgment.
“This verdict is the biggest injustice to the victims of the blasts. They have only been shown a picture of justice. The citizens and victims should know what went in the name of giving justice to them. We are 101 per cent sure that we will get justice from the High Court,” defence lawyer Wahab Khan said.
| Convicts and their role | Quantum of punishment | |
|---|---|---|
| Kamal Ansari | Received arms training in Pakistan; Helped Pakistani terrorists Aslam and Hafizullah cross into India through Indo-Nepal border | Death |
| Tanveer Ansari | Received arms training in Pakistan; Surveyed local trains to plan the blasts; Helped in assembling bombs in Mohammed Ali's house; Attended 7/11 conspiracy meetings | Life imprisonment |
| Faisal Shaikh | Worked for Azam Cheema, LeT commander in chief, training in Pakistan; Received arms training in Pakistan | Death |
| Ehtesham Siddiqui | Harboured Pakistani terrorists Ammu Jan, Sabir, Abu Bakr, Kasam Ali,Ehsahnullah, Abu Hasan in a Mumbra house rented by Abdul Wahid Din | Death |
| Mohammad Ali Shaikh | Received arms training in Pakistan-Bombs were assembled at his residence; Attended 7/11 conspiracy meetings | Life imprisonment |
| Sajid Ansari | Procured timer electric circuitry and other devices for 7/11; Housed and harboured Pakistani terrorists Aslam and Haifzulla; Helped in assembling bombs at Mohammed Ali's house-Attended 7/11 conspiracy meetings | Life imprisonment |
| Naveed Khan | Helped in assembling bombs in Mohammed Ali's house; Attended 7/11 conspiracy meetings; Planted the bomb which exploded at Bandra station | Death |
| Asif Bashir Khan | Housed and harboured Pakistani terrorists at his Mira Road residence; Procured rexine bags, utensils, ammonium nitrate, detonators; Helped in assembling bombs in Mohammed Ali's house; Planted the bomb which exploded in Borivali station | Death |
| Majid Mohammad Shafi | Helped Pakistani terrorists Sabir, Abu Bakr, Kasam Ali, Ammu Jan,Ehsanullah, Abu Hasan cross into India through Indo-Bangladesh border; Ehsanullah brought RDX with him, which were later used in making bombs | Life imprisonment |
| Muzzammil Shaikh | This computer engineer received arms training in Pakistan; Surveyed local trains to plan the blasts; Helped in procuring hawala money to execute the 7/11 conspiracy through absconding accused Rizwan Daware and his brother Rahil; Attended 7/11 conspiracy meetings | Life imprisonment |
| Suhail Shaikh | Recieved arms and ammunition training in Pakistan; Surveyed local trains to plan the blasts; Attended 7/11 conspiracy meetings | Life imprisonment |
| Zameer Shaikh | -Received arms training in Pakistan; Surveyed local trains to plan the blasts; Attended 7/11 conspiracy meetings | Life imprisonment |
Timeline of case:
11
July, 2006
>Seven RDX bombs rip the first class compartments of Mumbai local trains between Churchgate and Bhayander station in a span of 11 minutes. 189 dead, around 800 injured
21
July, 2006
Police arrest three persons in connection with the blasts.
30
November, 2006
ATS files charge sheet, 13 arrested accused and 15 absconding accused charged under MCOCA
21
June, 2007
7/11 accused move Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of MCOCA. In February 2008, Supreme Court ordered a stay on the trial.
23
September, 2008
Mumbai Crime Branch arrests five IM operatives. Crime branch probe shows IM carried out the bombings, contradicting ATS that Pakistani nationals also planted bombs.
13
February, 2010
Young lawyer Shahid Azmi, who defended some of the accused in 7/11 case, shot dead in his central Mumbai office.
23
April, 2010
Stay on trial vacated, examination of witnesses resume
23
June, 2010
Media barred from entering court conducting trial
30
August, 2013
Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of IM, >arrested at Indo-Nepal border. Yasin claims the 2006 bombings were done by IM in retaliation to the 2002 riots, raising questions about arrest of 13 accused by ATS
20
August, 2014
7/11 trial concludes and court reserves judgment
11
September, 2015
MCOCA court convicts 12 of the 13 arrested accused in the case.
30
September, 2015
MCOCA court sentences five convicts to death. Seven get life imprisonment.
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