2 get life term in 1993 serial blasts case

While Imtiyaz Ghawte is guilty of planting a bomb, Nasim Barmare is sentenced for throwing hand grenades.

The TADA Court on Tuesday sentenced Imtiyaz Ghawte and Nasim Barmare to life imprisonment for the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai. While Ghawte was found guilty of having planted an unexploded scooter bomb in Central Mumbai, Barmare was convicted for throwing hand grenades at the Sahar Airport.

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Ghawte, was convicted in November last for having participated in the Shekhadi landing of arms and explosives prior to the blasts and planting a RDX-laden scooter at the busy Dhanji Street in Central Mumbai, which failed to explode.

Ghawte had been convicted under the TADA (P) Act, conspiracy and attempt to murder under the IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and the Explosives Act. Special Judge PD Kode also ordered him to pay a fine of Rs 2.77 lakh.

THAT FATEFUL DAY The 1993 bombings were a series of thirteen bomb blasts that took place in Bombay (now Mumbai), on March 12, 1993. The coordinated attacks were the most destructive bomb explosions in the history of India. The single-day attacks resulted in over 250 civilian deaths and 700 injuries. The attacks are suspected to have been coordinated by notorious underworld don DawoodIbrahim. It is believed that the attacks were carried out in retaliation for the destruction of the historic BabriMasjid on December 6, 1992, which resulted in nationwide riots that led to the deaths of hundreds of Muslims and Hindus.

Barmare was found guilty for being party to the conspiracy but he was spared the death sentence as there was no death or damage to property consequent to his actions.

The special judge also ordered him to pay a fine of Rs 2.30 lakhs.

The court has so far sentenced 77 of the 100 found guilty of participating in carrying out the serial blasts in the city on March 12, 1993 that killed 257 people and injuring over 700.

While sentencing Ghawte to two concurrent life sentences, Special judge PD Kode observed that it was only due to the grace of God that this scooter had not exploded.

Ghawte, who is HIV-positive, has sought to stay in a the Arthur Road jail expressing fear that he may not receive proper medical treatment on account of his condition.

Earlier, former customs official Somnath Thapa who was to be sentenced today by the court failed to appear stating that he was suffering from viral fever while he is already a cancer patient.