On September 11, 2015, a Special MCOCA Court in Mumbai, presiding by Special Judge Y.D. Shinde, convicted twelve persons involved in carrying out the 7/11 Mumbai trains serial blasts that had claimed 189 lives and had left 817 injured on the evening of July 11, 2006 in Mumbai local trains.
This judgment comes 9 years after RDX bombs blew up seven peak hour suburban / local trains on the Western Railway in 11 minutes and killed 189 commuters. The trial was conducted by a Special Court under the provisions of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The eight-year-long trial concluded on August 19, 2014 and Special Judge Y.D. Shinde pronounced his judgement.
However, out of 13 accused prosecuted for these blasts, one accused has been acquitted.
“The long-awaited decision serial blasts has been given out. Twelve of the 13 accused have been convicted,” Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare told the media after the verdict was pronounced. He said one person has been acquitted, while two of the charges on the 12 convicted attracts death penalty. He said arguments on the quantum of sentence will be taken up on Monday.
These blasts had started on July 11, 2006, from 6.23 p.m. onwards – the peak hour when the suburban trains are choked with commuters going home. The seven bombs went off in trains at Matunga Road, Mahim, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Borivali and Mira Road stations spanning Mumbai and Thane districts.
Police had said that highly sophisticated explosives ripped through mainly the first class compartments of the seven local trains, all headed in the northern direction. While two blasts occurred when the crowded trains neared Borivali and Mahim stations, the others took place when they were leaving the stations or while running to their destinations.
The explosions carried out by around 15-20 kg of RDX, were so powerful that they blew off the double-layered steel roofs and walls of the seven train compartments.
During the marathon trial, the prosecution produced 188 witnesses, including many commuters, survivors, doctors, police personnel and others, with their deposition running into nearly 5,500 pages. The lengthy trial saw the deposition by around 190 prosecution witnesses, among whom were commuters who were on the ill-fated trains.
