he 1993 Bombay bombings were a series of 13 bomb explosions that took place in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India on Friday, 12 March 1993. The coordinated attacks were the most destructive bomb explosions in Indian history. The single-day attacks resulted in over 250 fatalities and 700 injuries.[4]
The attacks were coordinated by Dawood Ibrahim, don of the Bombay-based international organised crime syndicate named D-Company.
Ibrahim is believed to have ordered and helped organise the bombings in Bombay, through one of his subordinates, Tiger Memon. The bombings are also believed to have been financially assisted by the expatriate Indian smugglers, Hajji Ahmed, Hajji Umar and Taufiq Jaliawala, as well as the India smugglers, Aslam Bhatti and Dawood Jatt. The Indian authorities have also alleged the involvement of the Pakistani intelligence agency, ] Several of the terrorists received arms, ammunition and explosives training in Pakistan or were recruited from Dubai, UAE.
Asghar Yusuf Muquddam and Shahnawaz Qureshi, who have been found guilty for involvement in the blasts pleaded for leniency, claiming that they were not terrorists and were emotionally driven to participate in the act. Mukadam claimed that the main conspirators took advantage of his "frame of mind" after the demolition of Babri Masjid and the subsequent riots, alleging police partiality during the riots. "Vested interests" instigated him to act as he did. Quareshi was trained in Pakistan to handle arms and ammunition. He and Muquddam parked the explosive filled vehicle at Plaza cinema, Mumbai which resulted in 10 deaths and 37 injuries. Qureshi reached Pakistan via Dubai, where he claims he was taken "under the pretext of providing ... an alternative job". He claims that his house was set on fire during the riots
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1993 Mumbai Bomb Blasts: Actor Sanjay Dutt Sentenced to Five Years in Jail; Yakub Memon Gets Death
The actor was sentenced to six years in jail after he was convicted by a special TADA court in 2007 for illegal possession of a 9 mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle. He was acquitted of the terror charges under the now defunct Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.
The apex court on Thursday said that it agreed on the acquittal on terror charges, but upheld the conviction for illegal possession of arms. The court reduced the jail term from six to five years for Sanjay. The actor has already spent 18 months in jail and is currently on bail. He has not been granted probation and will be sent back to jail to serve three years and six months. However, the actor has been given an option to file a review petition.
On 12 March, 1993, 12 bomb blasts rocked Mumbai killing 257 people and injuring more than 700. The explosions also caused damage to property worth ₹27 crore.
The apex court also upheld the death sentence of Yakub Memon in the Mumbai serial blasts. Calling Memon as the prime accused in the case, the SC said, "We have no doubt about Memon's role in the blasts."
Yakub is the brother of Tiger Memon who along with Dawood Ibrahim is said to have masterminded the Mumbai blasts. Both Tiger and Dawood fled India after the blasts. The apex court also commuted the death sentences of 10 others to life.
The court also came down heavily on Pakistan. It lashed out at Pakistan saying, "The accused were trained in bomb making and to handle sophisticated weapons in Pakistan," and added, "Managementand conspiracy of blasts were done by Dawood Ibrahim and others."
The SC said that the Pakistan's Intelligence agency ISI was also involved in the blast.
source wikipedia
