An Indian anti-terror court on Sept. 11 convicted 12 men of various charges, including murder, in connection with the near-simultaneous bombings of seven trains in Mumbai in 2006. The men, ranging in age from late 20s to early 40s, are thought to have been members of the Students Islamic Movement of India. Prosecutors say the student organization joined with Pakistan-backed militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (National Counter-Terrorism Center profile) to carry out the attacks, allegations the Pakistani government denies. The two groups allegedly placed eight homemade bombs on the first-class cars of several trains and in one train station, and detonated the explosives within 15 minutes of one another, resulting in 189 deaths and more than 800 injuries. Although charges were filed against the men only four months after the attack, the case took several years to resolve due to difficulties in collecting evidence. Sentencing is expected this week, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
In July, India hanged Yakub Memon, a former accountant convicted in the 1993 Mumbai bombings. In January, the Supreme Court of Pakistan overturned the release of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, former head of Lashkar-e-Taiba and alleged organizer of the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 165.
From Jurist, Sept. 12. Used with permission.
See our last report on the Mumbai bombing cases.
India court sentences five to death for Mumbai bombings
A special court in India handed down death sentences Sept. 30 to five individuals convicted in bomb blasts in Mumbai that killed 188 people in 2006. Special Judge Yatin D Shinde sentenced Kamal Ansari, Faisal Atur Rahman Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Naveed Khan and Asif Khan to death and gave life sentences to seven others. (Jurist)
More death sentences in Mumbai bombings
An administrative court under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA court) in Mumbai on Sept. 7 sentenced Feroz Abdul Rashid Khan and Taher Merchant to death and Abu Salem and Karimullah Khan to life imprisonment for their involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts that killed 300 and injured hundreds more. A fifth accused individual, Riyaz Siddiqui, was sentenced to 10 years in jail. This development follows the conviction of six individuals involved in the case in June, one of whom, Mustafa Dossa, died later the same month. Abu Salem had fled to Portugal sometime after the blasts, but was extradited in 2005 after a protracted legal battle between the India and Portugal governments. The prime accused conspirator in the blast, Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, is believed to be hiding in Pakistan, but Pakistan has rejected such claims. Another key conspirator, Yakub Memon, was sentenced to death by the TADA court in 2007, and hanged in July 2015. Tiger Memon and 33 other individuals believed to be involved in the blasts are still missing. (Jurist)