In Pics: Mumbai in the aftermath of 1993 serial blasts

A look at Mumbai after the 1993 bomb blasts as a TADA court gathered to pronounce verdict on seven accused.

Abu Salem, Mustafa Dossa, Firoz Khan, Riyaz Siddiqui, Karimullah Shaikh, Mohammad Tahir Merchant alias Tahir Taklya and Abdul Qayyum appeared in today’s proceedings. Six were found guilty with Abdul Qayyum being acquitted.

The second leg of the trial in the 1993 Mumbai serial blast saw judgement from a special TADA court in Mumbai today. The city had witnessed an unprecedented terror attack on March 12, 1993 with 12 bomb explosions at various locations within a span of two hours. (Sanjay Sharma / HT Photo)

Police and explosives experts investigate a blast site after an explosion at one of the locations. (Sanjay Sharma / HT Photo)

The attack, which involved the use of RDX killed 257 people and injured 713 others. The blasts are considered retaliatory to the Mumbai riots in December 1992 and January 1993 which were followed the demolition of the Mughal-era Babri Masjid situated in Ayodhya in December 1992. The city witnessed a cycle of protests, rioting and retributive violence that claimed around 900 lives.

Devastation seen at Worli following one of 12 blasts that rocked Mumbai on March 12, 1993. (Sanjay Sharma / HT Photo)

The locations hit by the blasts were Bombay Stock Exchange, Katha Bazaar, Zaveri Bazaar, Hotel Sea Rock, Centaur Hotel in Juhu, Air India Building, Lucky petrol pump, Fishermen’s colony at Mahim Causeway, opposite Passport office near Century Bazaar, Plaza Theatre, Sahar Airport and Centaur Hotel near the airport.

The blasts were the largest single use of RDX since the second world war . (Sanjay Sharma / HT Photo)

The seven accused were separated from the main trial which ended in 2007 where the TADA court convicted 100 accused, acquitting 23 others. Arguments in this second leg were concluded in July 2016 by Special public prosecutor Deepak Salvi.

Passersby observe the burnt remains of a car after a blast on March 12, 1993 in North Mumbai. (Sanjay Sharma / HT Photo)

The accused in this trial faced charges of smuggling arms and ammunition, RDX and hand grenades into the country, harbouring, transporting and supplying explosives later used in the blasts and sending over other convicts to Pakistan for training. All accused were acquitted of the charge of waging war against the nation.

Relatives of Mumbai blast victim head to Chandanwadi Burial Ground for the victim’s last rites. (Sanjay Sharma / HT Photo)