Weeping cops plead for leniency

Mumbai, Sep 27 (UNI) Five Maharashtra police personnel, found guilty of aiding and abetting India's worst terror attack that killed 257 people in serial bomb blasts in the country's commercial and entertainment capital on March 12, 1993, today broke down in the TADA court, pleading for leniency.

Sub-inspector Vijay Patil, constables Ashok Muneshwar, P M Mahadik, Ramesh Mali and Srikrishna Pashilkar were yesterday found quilty by TADA court judge Pramod Kode of allowing safe passage of arms, ammunition and RDX from Raigad to Mumbai. The arsenal, ferried by speedboat to Shekhadi coast in Raigad, was used in triggering multiple explosions in the city.

Recording statements for determining the quantum of sentence, all the five convicted policemen, who appeared in crumpled clothes after spending a night in Arthur Road jail, said they were not hardcore criminals and they and their families have already gone through mental trauma in the last 13 years.

Citing their family responsibilty being sole bread-earners, they implored the judge to take a lenient view and consider the period they had spent in jail while awarding punishment.

All the five suspended police personnel, who had been out on bail after remaining in jail for varying period, were taken into custody yesterday when pronounced guilty and their bail bonds were cancelled.

All of them were convicted under section 3(3) of the now-lapsed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

Patil, who was also convicted for being a party to conspiracy, under 120 (b) of Indian Penal Code, had broken down yesterday also when the court pronounced him guilty.

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