The Hindu : Front Page : Lesser, life sentence for youth in Mumbai blasts case

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Lesser, life sentence for youth in Mumbai blasts case

Staff Reporter

He was at a tender age when he was involved in conspiracy: Judge Kode

MUMBAI: The special TADA court on Tuesday sentenced three more bomb planters to capital punishment and another accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case to life imprisonment because of his young age.

Moin Qureshi, Abdul Akhtar, Zakir Hussein, Feroz Malik were involved in the March 12, 1993 hand grenade attack on the Mahim fishermen colony, which killed three persons and left six others injured. The previous day the foursome acquired weapons training and participated in conspiracy meetings, and filled RDX in vehicles on the intervening night of March 11 and 12. Other than Moin, who was a teenager then, all of them had been sent to Pakistan for weapons training, the court said.

Special judge P. D. Kode found them guilty under various sections of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, the unlawful assembly provision under the Indian Penal Code and under the Explosive Substances Act.

Sentencing Moin, 31, to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1,65,000, the judge said he was “at a tender age” when he was involved in the conspiracy and pointed out that Supreme Court judgments indicated that age should be taken into consideration.

“A young mind is not mature to be able to understand and evaluate the situation,” and hence the lesser sentence.”

Justice Kode also considered an application that Moin was only 17 years old at the time of commission of the crime. He had not left the country for weapons training. When the judge called out the other three, they sat quietly till the pronouncement of the punishment — capital punishment on two counts and imprisonment under other Sections — was over. Each of them will have to pay fines over Rs.1 lakh.

As he was being led away, Feroz said, “Sir, I came back to face the trial after I got bail. I could have run away but I did not, because I am not a terrorist.”

While Feroz was still talking, Zakir said, “If a Hindu does something then a commission is set up, but if a Muslim does something he is hanged.” Immediately, before both of them could be taken away, Abdul shouted, “Allah-o-Akbar” and repeated Zakir’s statement. Justice Kode said their behaviour justified the punishment. “If you feel that the judgment is wrong, you can appeal in the Supreme Court.”

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam later said the three accused threatened him as he passed by on the staircase. A case of criminal intimidation has been registered against them.

Till now 10 accused have been given capital punishment subject to confirmation by the apex court.

The TADA court has sentenced 91 of the 100 accused. Apart from Farooq Pawle, a bomb planter; film actor Sanjay Dutt and the Memon family members are still to be sentenced.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page