Even though the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court convicted 12 accused in the Mumbai serial train blasts case victims are demanding death penalty for them. The gruesome bomb blast which occurred nine years ago claimed the lives of 189 commuters and injuring 824. Victims were unhappy with the slow paced justice delivery system. Two months back, Parag Sawant one of the last survivor of the 2006 Mumbai bomb blast incident died. The 7/11 Mumbai suburban trains serial blasts, carried out in a span of just 11 minutes, targeted the crowded suburban services during the evening peak hours as bombs kept in pressure cookers went off in north-bound locals on Western Railway.
Subhash Kamble, who was travelling on a train from Bandra on July 11, 2006, felt the judgement had come too late but expected that the convicts would get the strictest punishment when the quantum of sentence is pronounced next Monday.
“It is too late. Nine years is a long time… We demand death penalty for the guilty. Those who are still out, government should take swift action and convict them. We will be content when death penalty is awarded to the guilty. People lost their loved ones,” Kamble said.
Suhas Tawde (58), who suffered partial hearing loss due to the blasts said, “Until all the accused are brought to account for their crimes, there will always be a fear that more attacks can happen. I underwent a series of medical tests since 2006 and the attack made me a high blood pressure patient. The effects of the blasts will continue to haunt all of us.”
Police inspector Santosh Khanvilkar, who was traveling in the train when the blast took place said, “I was saved from physical injuries because a man standing right in front of me, took the maximum hit. He later passed away,” said Khanvilkar. It is for the man who unwittingly saved his life that Khanvilkar hopes all the accused are awarded capital punishment.
Seven RDX bombs had ripped through the first class coaches of Mumbai’s suburban trains on July 11, 2006. The blast occurred between Khar Road-Santacruz, Bandra-Khar Road, Jogeshwari-Mahim Junction, Mira Road-Bhayander, Matunga- Mahim Junction and Borivali.
Delivering the verdict, the Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Judge Yatin D Shinde pronounced 12 accused as guilty while acquitting one accused Abdul Wahid Shaikh (34) in the case.
The 12 accused who were convicted are: Kamal Ahamed Ansari (37), Tanvir Ahmed Ansari (37), Mohd Faisal Shaikh (36), Ehtesham Siddiqui (30), Mohammad Majid Shafi (32), Shaikh Alam Shaikh (41), Mohd Sajid Ansari (34), Muzzammil Shaikh (27), Soheil Mehmood Shaikh (43), Zamir Ahmad Shaikh (36), Naveed Hussain Khan (30) and Asif Khan (38).
The accused were charged under the MCOCA, Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, The Railways Act, and Passport Act.
However, Azam Chima, along with 14 others, are still absconding in the case. Arguments for the quantum of sentence are likely to begin Monday.
On the verdict, Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare said: “It is not a question of my being happy or unhappy. What really matters… we are concerned with the death of so many people … People at large should be satisfied.”
Former Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy, who had a role in the investigations into the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, welcomed the court verdict.
Roy said: “I am happy the way investigations were conducted. Investigations were done thoroughly by the Mumbai Police and the ATS. To start with, it was a blind case. We had no clue. But I am satisfied with the verdict.”
KP Raghuvanshi, state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief at the time of the bombings, said that justice had been done.
“I believe that justice has been done…,” said Raghuvanshi.
In the trial that lasted eight years, the prosecution examined 192 witnesses, including eight Indian Police Service and five Indian Administrative Service officers as well as 18 doctors. The defence lawyers examined 51 witnesses and one person was called as a court witness.
