1993 blasts case: Two landing agent gets lifer

Mumbai, May 30: Two landing agents, who had helped in landing of the deadly explosives that were used to cause the terrible Mumbai blasts in 1993, were today awarded life sentence, while six other guilty persons were sentenced to five to ten years of rigorous imprisonment.

Designated TADA court judge P D Kode awarded the life sentence to 83-year-old Dawood Phanse alias Dawood Taklya while observing that the court was not awarding him the death sentence in consideration of his age.

A close confidante of prime absconding accused Tiger Memon, Dawood Phanse had held conspiratorial meetings in Dubai on January 21, 1993 prior to the blasts on March 12, 1993. He had made necessary arrangements for the landing of arms and ammunition and the deadly RDX at Shekadi in Raigad district. He had also held meetings with Customs and police officials for facilitating the landing of the explosives.

Dawood Phanse was sentenced to life under Section 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code, he was again sentenced to life under Section 6 of TADA, and on a third count, he was sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment under Section 3 (3) of TADA. All the sentences are to run concurrently. The court also slapped a total fine of Rs two lakh on Dawood Phanse.

Muzammil Quadri was also awarded life imprisonment by the court.

He was held guilty under three counts and awarded the life sentence under Section 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code, ten years rigorous imprisonment under Section 3(3) of TADA on the second count and 14 years rigorous imprisonment under Srection 6 of TADA under the third count. All the sentences are to run concurrently. The court slapped a total fine of Rs 125,000 upon Muzammil Quadri.

Muzammil Quadri too was held guilty for holding conspiratorial meetings with Customs and police officials, and for concealing the smuggled arms and explosives. The police had recovered sixteen AK-56 rifles, out of which three had been distributed among others for receiving training.

The court sentenced Khalil Sayyed Nazir to ten years rigorous imprisonment under Section 120 (B) of the IPC and also ten years rigorous imprisonment under Section 3(3) of TADA. Both sentences are to run concurrently. The total fine imposed on him was Rs 50,000. He had partly participated in the landing operations and was a member of the team that had negotiated with police and Customs officials.

Mohammed Ghulam Bottomiya, from whom one AK-56 rifle had been recovered along with 980 cartridges and 37 empty magazines, was awarded six years rigorous imprisonment under Section 3(3) of TADA and also six years rigorous imprisonment under Section 5 of TADA.

Both sentences are to run concurrently. He has to pay a total fine of Rs 50,000.

The fifth person on whom the court pronounced the sentence today was Salim Khan Durrani, a scion of a princely family from Tonk in Rajasthan. He was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment and was slapped with a fine of Rs 25,000. He was held guilty of possessing an AK-6 rifle which, however, was not recovered from his direct possesssion. Durrani, incidentally, also headed the Mumbai unit of the ''Jan Morcha''.

Mohammed Dawood Khan, an associate of Ejaz Pathan, was sentenced to six years rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000.

He was held guilty of concealing three AK-56 rifles that had been handed over to him by Pathan.

Aziz Shaikh and Liaqat Ali were awarded five years rigorous imprisonment respectively and a fine of Rs 25,000 each. Aziz Shaikh had been held after he was found in possession of an US-made rifle, while Liaqat Ali had allowed the use of his godown for the storage of arms and explosives.

Meanwhile, when the sentence was pronounced upon Aziz Shaikh, he wanted to know the status of his application praying for relief under the Probation of Offenders Act (POA). The court told him that applications of those convicted under TADA would not be considered for providing relief under POA. Only applications of those who have not been convicted under TADA would be considered.

After today, the court has pronounced sentences upon 51 persons who have been held guilty, while the court has yet to pronounce the sentence upon 49 others who include Bolywood actor Sanjay Dutt and members of the Memon family.

UNI

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