1993 Blasts guilty pray for lenient punishment

Mumbai, Oct 11: Three trawler owners, who have been held guilty by the designated court here for their involvement in the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai, today pleaded for leniency.

The three, Yashwant Bhoinkar, Abbas Shaikhdare and Shahjehan Shaikhdare, have been held guilty by TADA court judge P D Kode under the Customs Act.

While recording their statemnts before judge Kode, Bhoinkar broke down and prayed that he be awarded lesser punishment. He said the period of two years and seven months that he had spent in jail be considered while awarding the quantum of punishment. He told the court that he was 75 years old and suffered from cardiac problems.

While praying for leniency, Abbas Shaikhdare told the court that his trawler 'Wurban' had been damaged which had affected his livelihood. He told the court that he could not use it for fishing and he did not have any other source of income. The 65-year-old Shaikhdare, who has already spent two years and three months in jail, urged the court to award a lesser punishment considering his advanced age.

Sixty nine-year-old Shahjahan Shaikhdare, who has also spent two years and three months in jail, told the court that he was living with his wife while his two married children were staying separately. He told the court his wife is suffering from diabetes and heart disease and he, himself, was not keeping well.

While, praying for lenient punishment, he informed the court that earned a living by fishing along the coast in his hometown.

UNI