’93 Mumbai Blasts Live: Tahir, Firoz Get Death, Life for Abu Salem
The TADA court on 16 June had found six persons guilty in the case, including deported don Abu Salem.
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A special TADA court pronounced the quantum of sentence for the convicts in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case today. Abu Salem and Karimullah Khan were given life imprisonment, while Tahir Merchant and Firoz Khan were sentenced to death. Riaz Siddiqui was handed ten years in prison.
Catch the live updates here.
- A special TADA court sentences Abu Salem and Karimullah Khan to life imprisonment in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case
- Tahir Merchant and Firoz Khan have been awarded death penalty
- Riaz Siddiqui has been sentenced to ten years in prison
- On 16 June 2017, the court had found Abu Salem and five others guilty in the case
- Mustafa Dossa, Karimullah Shaikh, Tahir Merchant, Riaz Siddiqui and Firoz Khan were convicted in the case
- Mustafa Dossa passed away two weeks after the verdict
- A series of blasts in Mumbai in March 1993 had killed 257 and injured around 700 others
Blasts Verdict Shows India's Resolve to Fight Terrorism: BJP
The BJP hailed the court verdict in the Mumbai serial blasts case, saying it shows India's unwavering commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of acts of terror do not go unpunished.
A Mumbai court has awarded death sentence to Tahir Merchant and Firoz Abdul Rashid Khan and life imprisonment to extradited gangster Abu Salem in the case.
"At a time when the Modi government has brought terrorism on the top of global agenda, this judgement shows India's unwavering commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of such acts of terror do not go unpunished," said BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao.
He said the judgement also marks justice for the families of over 257 persons, who had died in the blasts.
This verdict, Rao said, further strengthens the government's commitment to fighting terrorism, which is a global menace, in all its forms.
Hope Dawood, Memon are also punished: Congress
The Congress said justice has finally prevailed in the Mumbai serial blasts case and asserted that India is determined to fight terrorism and punish its perpetrators.
Congress in-charge of communications Randeep Surjewala voiced hope that terrorists Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon will also be punished, after a Mumbai TADA court sentenced two accused to death and handed down life term to two others including Dawood's aide Abu Salem.
The Quint's Ground Report on 1993 Mumbai Blasts Case Sentencing
Abu Salem Seeks Transfer to Delhi Court
Abu Salem has filed an application in Mumbai’s special TADA court seeking jail transfer to Delhi so that he can attend pending proceedings in Delhi, reports ANI.
'Life Sentence Can be Converted to 25 Yrs For Abu Salem'
CBI’s Special Counsel DN Salvi said that gangster Abu Salem has been given life imprisonment on two counts of conspiracy.
Tahir Trained Indian Youths in Pakistan: Ujjwal Nikam
Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, while addressing the media after the sentencing on Thursday, said that Tahir Merchant, who was handed death penalty, “ensured Indian youths were given arms and ammunition training in Pakistan and safely sent back to Mumbai”.
Death Sentence for Tahir, Firoz
Tahir Merchant and Firoz Khan were given the death penalty for their role in the serial blasts.
Meanhwhile, Riaz Siddiqui has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Abu Salem, Karimullah Get Life Sentence
The special TADA court on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case convicts Abu Salem and Karimullah Khan.
Both Abu Salem and Karimullah have also been slapped with a fine of Rs 2 lakh.
CBI’s retired DIG OP Chatwal, who led a team to bring Abu Salem back from Portugal, told CNN-News18 that he cannot be kept in jail beyond 25 years.
Convicts and Their Sentences
Sentencing in 1993 Mumbai Blasts Case Today
The special Terrorist and Disruptive Activity (TADA) court will pronounce the quantum of punishment against the five convicts of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case on Thursday.
On 16 June, the court found six persons guilty in the case, including deported don Abu Salem, who was extradited from Portugal in 2005, Mustafa Dossa, who died in JJ Hospital on 28 June, Mohammed Tahir Merchant alias Tahir Takla, Karimullah Shaikh, Riaz Siddiqui, and Firoz Khan.
Another prime accused, Abdul Qayyum, has been acquitted of all the major charges.
'Black Friday'
On the afternoon of 12 March 1993, a series of 13 blasts went off in quick succession at various locations in Mumbai city and suburbs, killing 257 people and injuring over 700 others.
The prime targeted locations included the Air India Building, Bombay Stock Exchange, Zaveri Bazar, then existing five star hotels, Hotel SeaRock and Hotel Juhu Centaur, and others leading to damage to public and private properties worth Rs 27 crore.
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