"I was informer for ACB, customs

Mumbai, Sep 25 (UNI) Sharif Parkar, convicted by a TADA court of receiving and handling deadly arms, ammunition and explosives brought to India at the behest of the country's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, today pleaded for lesser punishment, citing his role as an informer for several enforcement agencies.

'' I have not killed an ant in my life, how I could have killed so many people,'' said 78-year-old Parker, convicted for involvement in India's worst terror attack that killed 257 people on March 12, 1993.

He was found guilty of arranging meetings of prime absconding accused Tiger Memon with the police and customs officials to ensure safe landing and subsequent shipment of the deadly arsenal to the city where it was used in triggering multiple blasts.

While recording his statement on the quantum of punishment to be awarded by the court of Mr Pramod Kode, who convicted him on September 22, Parker disclosed he had met Bombay Police Commissioner in 1940 and pleaded for a police job but got employment in a government mint.

He said after working for two years in the mint, he joined Bombay Port Trust and worked for ten years before retiring to his village in Raigard district where he was engaged in selling agriculture produce.

Hailing from Raigad, Parkar, landing agent for smuggled gold, was found guilty of organising landing of arms and ammunition at Shekhadi coast in Raigad district on February 3 and 7, 1993.

He was also found guilty of helping Tiger Memon in locating sites in Sandheri and Borghat villages of Raigad where co-accused were given arms training.

The court, while not finding him guilty of the charge of having bribed police and customs officials, however, said bribes were indeed paid to facilitate smooth landing and transportation of the arsenal.

Parker was named by an approver and identified by prosecution witnesses during an identification parade held in court.

He also pleaded for leniency on the ground that he has spent 13 and a half year jail, is suffering from piles and hernia and wanted to marry off his 32-year-old daughter.

UNI XR SA VD VV1705