5 convicts get death, life for 7 others

Mumbai: Nine years after a series of bomb blasts in suburban trains rattled Mumbai killing 188 people, a special MCOCA court awarded the death sentence to five convicts -- Kamal Ansari, Faisal Atur Rahman Shaikh,

Ehtesham Siddiqui, Naveed Khan and Asif Khan. All others have been awarded life sentences under various sections of the UAPA, MCOCA Acts and IPC.

Of the 12 convicts, the prosecution had demanded capital punishment for Kamal Ahmed Mohammad Vakil Ansari, Dr Tanvir Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari, Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Ehtesham Kutubuddin Siddiqui, Shaikh Mohammad Ali Alam Shaikh, Mohammad Sajid Mugrub Ansari, Naveed Hussain Khan and Asif Khan.

For the rest of them, the prosecution sought life imprisonment. They are Mohammad Majid Mohammad Shafi, Muzammil Ataur Rehman Shaikh, Sohail Mehmood Shaikh and Zameer Ahmed Latiur Rehman Shaikh.

The defence and the prosecution in the case, on the point of quantum of punishment, argued for almost a week in a special court in Mumbai.

From showing reformation to the dozen convicts being “merchants of death”, the two sides contradicted each other at every juncture of legal arguments, leaving no stone unturned.

Special Judge Yatin D Shinde had concluded hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence when prosecution demanded death penalty for 8 of the 12 accused while it sought life imprisonment for the remaining four.

On September 23, the Special MCOCA court had reserved its order on sentencing in the case for today, September 30. Earlier, on September 11, it had convicted 12 of the 13 accused, all allegedly having links with banned SIMI, while acquitting one.

The accused were found guilty of charges under IPC, Explosives Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Indian Railway Act and those under MCOCA.