Three convicted in 2003 Mumbai twin blasts case

Mumbai, July 27 (ANI): A special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court on Monday convicted three persons, including a woman, in the six-year-old Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar twin blasts case.

POTA Judge M R Puranik convicted Ashrat Ashrat Ansari (32), Hanif Sayed Anees (46) and his wife Fehmida Sayed (43).

The quantum of punishment will be declared on August 4.

They have been convicted under various sections of the IPC for conspiracy, murder and attempt to murder, sections of the POTA, the Explosive Substances Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

On August 25, 2003, two bombs left in taxis exploded in south Mumbai - the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar in the busy Kalbadevi area, killing 52 people and wounding more than a hundred others.

The attacks were carried out to "avenge" the deaths of Muslims during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

It is the most awaited judgement in a terrorist case after the Special TADA Court completed the March 2, 1993, serial blasts trial in 2007, which led to the conviction of 100 people, including Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt. (ANI)