Court to pronounce quantum of sentence to 2003 Mumbai twin blasts convicts today

MUMBAI: A special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court will on Tuesday pronounce the quantum of sentence to three convicts who were found guilty for carrying out twin bomb blasts at the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar in 2003.

On July 27, POTA Judge M R Puranik had convicted Ashrat Ashrat Ansari (32), Hanif Sayed Anees (46) and his wife Fehmida Sayed (43).

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.