June 24, 2017:
Twenty-four years after the horrific blasts which shredded the Mumbai city into tears and despairs, a special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act court convicted 1993 Mumbai blasts accused gangster Abu Salem along with five others under the charge of the criminal conspiracy. However, Abdul Qayyum Ansari has been acquitted. The judgment of the accused has been adjourned till June 27.
On March 12, 1993, 12 blasts ripped through the city of Mumbai then Bombay, shedding lives of at least 257 people and 713 injured. The harrowing attack is also known to be the most coordinated terrorist attacks on the grounds of India. The attack was the first to occur after the Second World War when RDX was used massively. The Supreme Court confirmed this in 2014 calling the attack to be the first terror attack after the second world which had used RDX in bulk.
Bombay Stock Exchange
A powerful car bomb exploded in the basement of Mumbai Stock Exchange building. The 28 story building was set ablaze leading to 84 deaths and 217 injuries.
Katha Bazar
4 people died in South Mumbai after Parvez Nazir Ahmed Shaikh parked the RDX-laden scooter at Katha Bazar.
Shiv Sena Bhawan
A bomb exploded at a gas station opposite of Shiv Sena Bhawan.
Air India Building
A car bomb exploded in the basement garage of the building, leading to 20 deaths and 87 injuries. Farooq Pawale was convicted and sentenced to death for planting the attack.
Mahim Causeway
Three died in hutments near Mahim Causeway after convicted Salim Rahim Shaikh hurled hand grenade in the area.
Century Bazar
RDX was placed under manhole at Century Bazar the convicted Abdul Gani Turk. The explosion took place when a bus ran over the explosive, killing about 113 people, which was the highest casualty amongst 12 explosions.
Zaveri Bazar
Mohd Shoaib Ghansar had placed RDX filled scooter in the area that killed 19 people in the explosion.
Hotel Sea Rock
A man placed the bomb in the room of the hotel two days prior to the explosion but never stayed in the room. The device exploded shattering every window in the building.
Plazma Cinema
The explosion occurred when an RDX filled Maruti Van was placed at the Plazma Cinema
Hotel Juhu Centuar
The bomb in the hotel was hidden in a room and injured three staff members.
Hotel Airport Centaur
The attack was compiled and combined by Nibandh Vinod. The bomb exploded leaving 2 deaths and 8 injuries.
Dawood Ibrahim and the Memon family are believed to be the masterminds behind the Mumbai blasts. Dawood is the famous underworld don whose name also appears in United Nations Charter list of dreadful criminals. The mastermind is said to be hiding since the blasts and is believed to be in Pakistan. He is also alleged to have ties with terror group Al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Toiba. While Dawood, Tiger and Ayub are still absconding, Yukub Memon was sentenced to death in 2015.
Many Muslims died in communal riots which broke out in the year 1993 following the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya and successive construction of a temporary temple in its place. The terror attack was a well-constructed revenge planted by the conspirators to arouse fear in the minds of people and create disharmony among the different sections of society.
– by Naina Mishra of Newsgram. Twitter: @Nainamishr94