Two more Memon aides found guilty in 1993 Mumbai blasts

Two close aides of Tiger Memon, the prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings, were proclaimed guilty Thursday by a special court here for conspiracy, aiding and abetting blasts.

The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Preventive) Act (TADA) court, however, acquitted another accused for lack of evidence.

Delivering the judgment special judge Pramod Kode said: "While Nasir Abdul Kadar Keval alias Nasir Dhakla and Mohammed Rafiq Usman Sheikh have been charged with aiding and abetment, arms training in Pakistan and attending conspiracy meetings at the residence of co-accused, Mohammad Ahmed Mansoor is being acquitted as the prosecution has failed to provide enough evidence against him."

Both Nasir and Sheikh have been found guilty under Section 3(3) of the TADA Act for aiding and abetting terror and Section 120-b of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for conspiracy.

While Nasir is in custody since his arrest in 1995, Sheikh is on bail since 1998.

Nasir is accused of going to Pakistan for arms training, participating in the landing operation of arms and explosives at Shekhandi coast in Maharashtra's Raigad district, attending conspiracy meetings at the residences of co-accused Babloo and Mubina Baya Bhiwandiwala.

He is also charged with joining other accused in packing RDX in vehicles, which were planted at various places in Mumbai, on the day of the serial blasts on March 12, 1993.

He was arrested from Hyderabad January 6, 1995. The court had earlier rejected his bail plea.

Sheikh is also facing charges of going to Pakistan via Dubai for arms training and attending conspiracy meetings at the residences of co-accused at the instance of blast mastermind - Tiger Memon.

Accepting the duo's confessions as well as those of the co-accused and eyewitness, who had identified Nasir in the arms-landing operation, judge Kode implicated them.

Acquitting Mansoor of the charge of facilitating terrorist acts by making arrangements for the co-accused to obtain arms training in Pakistan, judge Kode said the prosecution had failed to prove that he had received the co-accused at Dubai airport and sent them to Pakistan for arms training.

Both face a minimum term of five years and a maximum of life imprisonment. The quantum of sentence will be delivered at a later date. The court will hear the duo's statement Friday. pp/la (IANS)

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