A Muslim bomber was convicted of murder yesterday for an attack on a jewelry market during a day of blasts in India's economic capital 13 years ago that killed 257 people.
Mohammed Kasam Ghansar faces a possible death sentence for killing 17 people and wounding 57 after leaving an explosive-laden scooter outside the market that was primed to explode minutes after he walked away.
The attack was one of 12 blasts that rocked Mumbai on March 12, 1993, allegedly on the orders of the city's Muslim-dominated underworld in retaliation for nationwide Hindu-Muslim riots that left hundreds dead.
Security was tight in the court area as the verdicts came after two major bomb attacks in western India in the past two months that killed more than 200 people.
One of these attacks targeted packed commuter trains in Mumbai and the other was in a town that has been hit by Hindu-Muslim violence.
Ghansar was acquitted of helping to spirit alleged mastermind Tiger Memon out of the country hours before the deadliest bomb attack in India's history. Memon remains on the run.
Ghansar was the first person convicted of planting bombs in the early stages of verdicts announced for 123 people standing trial at a special terrorism court in Mumbai in a process likely to take weeks.
Four members of Memon's family, including three of his brothers, were convicted on Tuesday of preparing for attacks but not of planting any of the devices.
The scooter bomb left by Ghansar was one of a series of blasts targeting commercial and strategic buildings including Mumbai's stock exchange and the offices of national carrier Air India. The bombs also left more than 700 injured.
Ghansar, referred to in court as defendant number nine, also traveled with another group of alleged bombers who dumped explosives-filled suitcases in three hotels.
The defendant looked straight ahead and showed little emotion as trial Judge P.D. Kode read out the verdict at a makeshift court attached to a city prison.
Kode will continue delivering verdicts tomorrow for the remaining defendants who include Bollywood film star Sanjay Dutt. They all face a minimum of five years in prison if convicted.
Some 30 suspects remain on the run including the two alleged key players, Memon and notorious Mumbai underworld boss Dawood Ibrahim.
They are believed to be in hiding abroad.
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