Pakistan-trained qureshi held guilty in 1993 Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 18 (UNI) A TADA court today held Pakistan-trained Indian national Shahnawaz Qureshi guilty of involvement in the Mumbai serial bomb blasts that had claimed 257 lives and left over 700 people wounded on March 12, 1993.

The designated court of Mr Pramod Kode also found Asghar Mukadam guilty of the terrorist crime bringing the total number of those convicted in the case so far to seven.

The seven convicts include four members of the family of absconding prime accused Tiger Memon, and Mohammed Sohaib Ghansar - the planter of RDX-laden scooter at the city's jewellleary hub in Zaveri Bazar.

Of the total 123 accused, three members of Memon family were discharged for want of sufficient evidence against them, while Abdul Razzak Memon, father of Memon brothers, had died during trial.

Qureshi and Mukadam were found guilty under various sections of Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act.

The jobless 48-year-old Qureshi is the first found guilty from among at least 12 accused who had been charged with having trained in handling arms and explosives in Pakistan.

Both Qureshi and Mukadam were held guilty of planting bombs in Plaza Cinema Hall at Dadar in Central Mumbai, in which 10 people were killed and 36 injured on March 12, 1993 when a total of 13 serial bomb blasts rocked the megapolis.

Mukadam, who worked as a manager with Tiger Memon, had driven an RDX-laden car into the cinema hall complex and parked it near western wall of the building where it had exploded causing the casualties. Qureshi, his accomplice in the crime, was driven in the same car.

Both the accused were identified by the two witnesses and an approver in the case.

Both the convicts were also charged with filling RDX in various vehicles which were used in the blasts.

Qureshi was found guilty of landing the RDX at Shekhadi in Raigad district between 3-7 February, 1993, filling RDX in vehicles on March 11-12 in Al Hussaini's building of Tiger Memon at Mahim, participating in the conspiracy meetings , and going to Pakistan for training via Dubai. The conspiracy meetings were held at the residence of co-accused Nazir Ahmed Shaikh and Ms Mubina Baya in February-March, 1993.

The court found Mukadam guilty of facilitating terrorist acts by driving co-accused, who had planted explosives at Centaur hotel, Sahar airport and Hotel sea rock at Bandra. He was also charged with collecting money from Mool Chand Shah for disbursement to co-accused.

The court would hear arguments tomorrow on the quantum of sentence on the two convicted today.

UNI XR SA VA VC2018