3 get life-term in triple blast case

Thirteen years after a chain of blasts between December 2002 and March 2003 shook Mumbai, a special court on Wednesday sentenced life term to three persons including bomb planter Muzammil Ansari.

 While Saquib Nachan, the link between the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Lashkar-e-Toiba was awarded a 10-year jail term.

Last week, a special court set up under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) had convicted 10 people involved in the December 6, 2002 blast at McDonald’s in Mumbai Central railway station, January 27, 2003 blast at market off Vile Parle railway station and March 13, 2003 blast at a local train in Mulund station. Three persons were acquitted for lack of evidence. A total of 12 people had died in these three blasts while 130 others were injured.

Delivering the final verdict on Wednesday, Additional Sessions Judge P R Deshmukh awarded life terms to three accused, 10 year term to four accused and two-year terms to four others.

Those who were given life terms are Muzammil Ansari, Wahid Ansari and Farhaan Khot, while Saquib Nachan, Ateef Mulla, Hasib Zubeir Mulla and Ghulam Khotal were given 10 year sentence.  Of the three of who have been given lifers, Muzammil has been asked to undergo the sentence till his last breath. 

“The present case falls short of rarest of rare, so no death sentence. But will be appropriate to award life term for rest of his life,” the judge said about Muzammil.

Besides Noor Malik, Anwar Ali and Muhammed Kamil were given two-year jail terms.