Former Gujarat minister convicted in Surat blasts case

Surat, Oct 4 (UNI) Former Gujarat Fisheries Minister Mohammed Surti and 11 others were today convicted in the 1993 Surat blasts case by a TADA court here.

TADA court Judge R P Dholadiya gave the ruling amid tight security in a fully packed courtroom. While Mohd Surti and 11 others were convicted, one of the accused was acquitted.

The quantum of punishment is expected to be pronounced by the judge later in the day.

Soon after the serial blasts in Mumbai, on January 28, 1993 two bombs were exploded in Surat, in which a young girl Alpa Patel was killed and 38 were wounded.

First bomb was lobbed in Varachha area on the outskirts of Surat, whereas the second grenade was lobbed at a train stationed on platform.

Police had arrested 13 people, including former minister Surti, Hussain Ghadaiyali, erstwhile Congress corporator Iqbal Wadivala, Mustaq Patel and Yusuf Dadu.

A TADA court heard the case and in the process examined around 166 witnesses, including the then police officers Sudhir Sinha and Pravin Sinha and erstwhile railway judge R P Mehta.

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