March 12, 1993: Incident that brought Mumbai to shambles; things to know

1993 Mumbai serial blast pictures/ ABP File images

New Delhi: The TADA court is set to pronounce its verdict in 1993 Mumbai serial blast case, and decide the fate of accused underworld don Abu Salem and 6 others for shaking the nerve of country’s commercial capital. What happened on March 12, 1993 in Mumbai? On March 12, 1993 the country's commercial capital and glamorous city Mumbai; which is the hub of Bollywood, witnessed an unprecedented terrorist attack when a series 12 bomb explosions took place one after another in about a span of two hours, bringing the whole city into shambles. Locations where blasts took place: The blasts took place at Bombay Stock Exchange, Katha Bazaar, Lucky petrol pump near Sena Bhavan, opposite Passport office near Century Bazaar, Fishermen's colony at Mahim Causeway, at basement of Air India Building, Zaveri Bazaar, Hotel Sea Rock, Plaza Theatre, Centaur Hotel (Juhu), Sahar Airport (Bay no.54) and Centaur Hotel (near airport). What was the motive behind attacks? According to the prosecution, in order to avenge the demolition of Babri Masjid, members of the crime syndicate under the fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim along with other absconding accused Tiger Memon, Mohammed Dossa and Mustafa Dossa (who is presently facing trial) hatched a conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in India. The prosecution said that the object of the crime was to commit terrorist acts with intent to overawe the Government of India, to strike terror on the people, alienate section of the people and to harm the communal harmony. It said that the conspirators smuggled fire-arms, ammunitions, detonators, hand grenades and highly explosive substances like RDX into India and stored it. How did actor Sanjay Dutt come into picture? Actor Sanjay Dutt was accused in the case for illegally possessing weapons like AK 56 rifles, 250 bullets and some hand grenades at his residence on January 16, 1993. Two days later on January 18, 1993, Salem and two others went to Dutt's house and got back two rifles and some rounds.