Innocents Pushed to the Gallows in 7/11 Mumbai Blasts Case?

Ten years after 7/11 Mumbai train blasts, there is growing support for the convicted.

On this day, ten years ago, a series of seven bombs ripped apart the local train network of Mumbai, killing over 200 innocents and injuring over 700. Nine years later, 12 people were convicted for these gruesome crimes. They were, obviously, branded ‘terrorists’. But now a growing chorus of prominent personalities claim that the 12 ‘terrorists’ are actually innocent.

At a symposium held in Mumbai on 10 July, 2 lawmakers, a retired High Court judge, a celebrity film director, a senior advocate, a professor and an author backed the families of terror convicts. This heavyweight backing made us sit up and take notice of the claims made by the 12 families.

Who did it? SIMI or IM?

The ATS focused its investigations on the banned student outfit SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India). However, Sadiq Sheikh, a leader of Indian Mujahideen (IM) brought a dramatic twist when he claimed his role in the blasts, but he was declared a hostile witness by the defence. The case took nine tedious years to reach a verdict in the MCOCA court in Mumbai. Of the 12 convicts, 5 were given death sentence while remaining 7 got life sentence. Wahid Din Mohammad Shaikh was acquitted of all the charges after spending nine years in jail. He says he was brutally tortured by police. He was one of the conveners of the symposium in Mumbai.

Innocents framed?

Similar claims of innocence were made by all families. They claimed that police acted under public and media pressure and arrested unrelated men with some criminal background. They said that the verdict has shattered their lives.

Lawmaker Supports the Convicts

Samajwadi Party MLA from Mumbai Abu Azmi backed the claims made by families of terror convicts. He claimed that the evidence provided by ATS is flimsy and that it won’t stand in the higher courts.

I don’t accept the (lower court) judgement. Mumbai police and public prosecutor are to blamed for wrongly framing innocents. They are all 100 percent innocent. Inshallah we’ll get justice in the High Court.

Abu Asim Azmi, MLA (Samajwadi Party), Mumbai

We later asked KP Raghuvanshi, former chief of ATS, to react to that charge. He was in charge while these investigations were going on. He asks,

(If they are all innocent) how were they convicted? The judicial process is on and I cannot further comment on it.

KP Raghuvanshi, former Mumbai ATS Chief

‘Judges are Ignorant’

Activist and author Nandita Haksar, who had come from Delhi to help the families of the convicts, said at the programme that a social movement needs to be started to save innocents. Talking about her experice in the Afzal Guru and SAR Gilani cases, she said:

Judges are ignorant about issues like terrorism and Islam. A social movement will help bridge the gap between Hindus and Muslims, which can definitely affect the judgement (in the High Court).

Advt. Nandita Haksar, Activist and Author

But public prosecutor Raja Thakare seems sure that the conviction will be upheld in the High Court.

If one piece of evidence appeals to the judicious conscience of one judicial officer, then it cannot be brushed aside (in the High Court).

Raja Thakare, Special Public Prosecutor 

MLC (Member of Legislative Council) Kapil Patil, retired High Court judge BG Kolse Patil, Congress office-bearer Nizamuddin Rayeen, Prof. Ram Puniyani and Advt. Mahrukh Edenwala also spoke in support of the convicts. Film director Mahesh Bhatt was supposed to attend the event, but he sent a letter of support instead.

Ten years ago, evil hands set off the bombs that tried to kill the backbone of Mumbai. Have the same people been caught by Mumbai police? The MCOCA court says yes. Now all eyes are on the High Court.