2002-03 Mumbai blasts: Three convicts including Muzammil Ansari awarded life sentence by POTA court

Mumbai: A special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court in Mumbai on Wednesday awarded life sentence to three of the accused for the 2002-03 triple bombings here. The three include the prime accused Muzammil Ansari. Alongwith Muzammil Ansari, Wahid Ansari and Farhan Khot were also awarded life imprisonment in the 2002-2003 bomb blasts case. Four others were given 10 years jail term, including Saquib Nachan, the general secretary of the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Three other convicts were given two years jail term by Special POTA Judge P. R. Deshmukh. All the 10 were found guilty and and convicted by the court on March 29, after which there were arguments between special public prosecutor Rohini Salian and defence lawyers on the quantum of sentencing, which concluded on Tuesday. Linked by a common conspiracy, the blasts occurred near McDonald's eatery in Mumbai Central Terminus on December 6, 2002, another in a Vile Parle market on January 27, 2003 and the third in a crowded ladies first class compartment of a suburban train near Mulund on March 13, 2003, killing a total of 12 and injuring over 139 others.