INDIA. ANOTHER DEATH SENTENCE IN MUMBAI BLASTS CASE

July 21, 2007: the sentencing in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case in India continued. Judge Kode of the special TADA court sentenced Iqbal Shaikh, 34, to death for involvement in the conspiracy. The court observed that Iqbal had taken another planter Naseem Barmare to Sahar airport where Barmare dropped hand grenades. Iqbal had also parked a scooter in central Mumbai near Dadar, which did not explode. Although he was found not guilty for terrorist acts resulting in death, the Judge said, “If a bomb does not explode because of technical problems then the accused will not get the benefit. The death sentence is awarded depending on the act, intent and furthering the object of the conspiracy.” Iqbal was found guilty of acquiring weapons training, conspiracy meetings, abetting terrorist acts and preparing vehicle bombs at the Al Husseini building on the intervening night of March 11 and March 12 and has to pay a fine of over Rs. 2 lakh. (Sources: The Hindu, 21/07/2007)