The Hindu : Front Page : 4 constables convicted under TADA

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Wednesday, Sep 27, 2006
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4 constables convicted under TADA

Staff Reporter

Five police personnel taken into custody

MUMBAI: In the first-ever conviction of police personnel under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act in the country, five police personnel were convicted in the 1993 blasts case on Tuesday. Sub-inspector Patil, and four constables — Pandarinath Mahadik, Shrikrishna Pashilkar, Ramesh Mali and Ashok Muneshwar — were those held guilty.

All five were taken into the custody of the court after the judgment. Manohar More, Krishna Pingle and Krishna Mokal were acquitted as their identity could not be established at the scene of the crime.

When Patil was told about his conviction, he was emotionally upset. He sat with the rest of the accused, constables and members of the Memon family who have already been convicted. Another constable, Mokal who has been acquitted, started sobbing. He was inconsolable till the end of the court proceedings.

The court also heard the statement of Naseem Barmare, convicted on Monday. Barmare said he was innocent. He said he had been in custody since his arrest and not faced any criminal case before. He pleaded that his parents were suffering from heart ailments and he had to look after his family.

Barmare said he belonged to a very poor family and had exhausted all his savings and valuables engaging a lawyer, who stopped representing him. Referring to Advocate Farhana Shah, who is representing over 80 accused in this case including those acquitted on Tuesday, he said that she had been like an elder sister and had helped them out on several occasions.

After recording this statement, when Mr. Kode asked Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh, who was also convicted on Monday with Barmare, to speak, he refused to give a statement. He has been ill for the last few years and said, "It is not right to trouble a sick person," and went back to his corner seat.

Mr. Kode is likely to deliver his findings on Mushtaq Tarani, who allegedly left a suitcase with RDX in the Juhu Centaur Hotel on March 12, 1993 on Wednesday. Tarani has been booked under Section 3(2)(ii) (terror act not resulting in death) as the explosion did not cause any deaths.

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